Italian and Canadian diplomats discuss Iran sanctions @AIPAC
John Baird, Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs is confirmed to
deliver a keynote address at the American Israel Public
Affairs Committee (AIPAC) annual policy meeting taking place March 3 –
5, 2013 in Washington, D.C.
His presence there further cements the Harper government's
uncritical support of Israel in face of its deteriorating record of
massive human rights violations in Occupied Palestine. "Canada stands
shoulder to shoulder with Israel," said Mr. Baird in November 2012. His
invitation to address AIPAC reflects that this government's position has
not altered in face of Israel's widening breaches of international
and humanitarian law against the people and land of Palestine.
AIPAC, according
to its own literature, is America's leading pro-Israel lobby working to
enact public policy that enhances the U.S.-Israel relationship. In fact,
AIPAC wields powerful influence over the U.S. political system to
ensure that Israel's illegal, violent and racist human rights
violations in Palestine can continue unchecked.
In contravention of international law, segregated,
Jewish-only settlements continue to proliferate on stolen Palestinian
land in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The Indigenous
Palestinians are being forcibly displaced while their homes, olive
groves and access to water are severely restricted. Over 600,000
colonial settlers, under watch of heavily armed Israeli occupation
forces, ensure that a policy of illegal land theft and population
transfer continues unabated.
Four million Palestinians are now living under an illegal, military
occupation. Reported incidents of settler violence against Palestinians
are increasing alarmingly -- up 149 per cent between 2009 and 2011. Just
last month, on February 23, at least 25 Israeli settlers, some armed
with machine guns and escorted by Israeli forces, attacked and injured
eight Palestinians including three children in Qasra village, south east
of Nablus.
The illegal separation wall continues to divide Palestinian
communities, cuts Palestinians off from their agrarian land and, by
snaking ever deeper into occupied Palestinian territory, annexes
additional Palestinian land and grafts it onto a continually expanding
Israel.
Peacefully demonstrating against these internationally
condemned assaults on human rights and dignity are routinely responded
to with tear gas, live fire and incarceration. Samer Issawi is refusing
food and dying in an Israeli prison as he protests his illegal
incarceration -- held without charges and without a trial under
so-called "administrative detention." On February 24, news surfaced that
30 year-old Arafat Jaradat died while under Israeli interrogation.
Preliminary reports describe shocking signs of beatings on his chest and
shoulders, lacerations on the back, broken ribs and a fractured skull.
Palestinians living in Gaza continue to be traumatized by a
punishing land and sea blockade imposed by Israel and as a result of
regular violent military incursions involving the air force, navy and
ground troops. Since the November 2012 ceasefire in Gaza, Israeli
forces have injured 74 Palestinians and killed four Palestinians. There
have been no Palestinian violations of the ceasefire.
These colonial atrocities continue in large measure because AIPAC
helps ensure that the world community remains impotent whenever it
wishes to censure Israel and hold it accountable to its international
obligations. The U.S. reflexively vetoes UN Resolutions critical
of fundamental Israeli human rights violations in Palestine. Canada is
significantly complicit on account of its uncritical support of
these policies, which further emboldens Israel's illegal and aggressive
behaviours.
John Baird's presence at the upcoming AIPAC conference is disturbing
in light of comments he recently made about Canada-Israel relations.
"Simply put, Israel is worthy of our support because it is a society
that shares so many values with Canada -- freedom, democracy, human
rights and the rule of law." While these values may be enjoyed by a
segment of Israeli society, they are definitely not extended to
Palestinians residing in Israel, East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza.
For many Canadians, the Harper government's unconditional acceptance
and encouragement of Israel's deepening apartheid practices against the
people and land of Palestine is morally and legally contemptible.
It is time for Canada to end our shameful complicity in the
dispossession, oppression and occupation of the Palestinian people.
"Israel has no greater friend in the world than Canada," says John
Baird. In that case it is this government's duty to join the United
Nations, the International Criminal Court and the international
community in condemning Israel for repeated and flagrant violations of
international law.
John 'Max' Soos is a member of the Boycott Israel Apartheid Campaign in Vancouver, B.C.
http://rabble.ca/news/2013/03/john-baird-presence-aipac-confirms-harper-governments-uncritical-support-israel
Sunday 3 March 2013
John Baird's presence at AIPAC confirms Harper government's uncritical support of Israel
Posted @ 16:01
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