If the Harper government continues its cozy relationship with the government of Israel

after its most recent human rights violations in the Gaza, it no longer represents the
interests of many of its citizens. Israel continues its violation of international laws in a
most horrendous abuse of human rights, continuing to imprison over 1.5 million people
and keep them on the brink of life without access to even basic necessities. (A minimal
amount of research will give one all the details they need regarding the state of affairs in
the Gaza strip.) Sadly, to speak out against these atrocities, one risks being labeled anti-
Semitic. I don’t care if the Israeli government is made of up Martians ~ criminal and
inhuman behaviour speaks for itself.

Middle East history may be complex but that does not prevent one from knowing what is
right and what is wrong. A convoy of six ships carrying humanitarian activists from 50
different countries sailed to Gaza with 10,000 tons of aid for the impoverished people
there, intending to go through the Israeli blockade which the UN and most of the world
recognizes as illegal. They were seized by the Israeli Navy and fired upon resulting in
perhaps 20 deaths and many injuries.

Supporters argue the Freedom Flotilla, the victims, are to blame as they had an
opportunity be accompanied by the Israeli Navy to a port and submit their ships to them.
That would be defeating their point. Never mind that much aid piles up and never reaches
Gaza. This flotilla was on a mission to call the world’s attention to the illegal blockade
of the Gaza strip – and to go through that blockade. Israel also was on a mission to
prevent this from happening to send a message to others who might try to bring aid. So
this peaceful flotilla was made the example for anyone who dares to resist the occupiers.

The claims that the trained Navy Seals were fired upon, had their arms wrested from
them, and any other variation of the spun story is rightly held in suspicion. Regardless,
the people of the flotilla, flying flags of other countries in international waters, did not
board Israeli Navy air or sea craft. They were stormed and gunned down.

Most civilized leaders have spoken out against this barbarism with strong words. Even
Israel’s own people have protested. Not so with the US and Canada governments. They
send their “regrets” and want to get the bottom of things. Typical politically correct
cowardice.

Canada’s government lacks the true courage of a leading world nation. The world needs
to challenges Israel’s actions in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and also toward its Arab
citizens. We need not be anti-Jew or Pro-Palestinian. We need to be anti any government
that systematically dehumanizes a people; I am for aiding those people – regardless of
ethnicity.

It is time to stop poisoning the well by labeling people who have the moral compass to
stand up to crimes against humanity. An attack on any free people is an attack on us all.
We can not continue to allow complacency to make us complicit in the wrong-doings
toward, and punishment of, the Palestinians. We would not allow it to happen to the
Jewish people. We stepped in against South African Apartheid. Why are we allowing this
to happen to the Palestinians?

If the Harper government does not take a stand, it does not represent my moral
consciousness and I am with the rest of the outraged world when I say enough is enough
of allowing this government to continue to break international laws and thumb their noses
up at the civilized world. As Dante Alighieri said, “the hottest places in hell are reserved
for those, who in times of moral crisis, do nothing.”