Hamas and Israel

Israel: Both made the initial mistake of accepting the broad parameters of Stephen Harpers position that Hamas is a terrorist entity and that Israel has a right to defend itself. But as Israeli missiles, bombs and shells ripped through civilians, day after day, many stunned Canadians asked why, amid the mounting humanitarian catastrophe, the opposition parties were mouthing mostly platitudes, according to The Star. The NDPs Quebec and youth wings made their displeasure known to the party brass. Some activists protested at the offices of Thomas Mulcair and the partys foreign affairs critic Paul Dewar and The federal New Democrats and Liberals, especially the latter, have been weathering a backlash for what has been seen as their kid glove treatment of Israel over the Gaza war. Liberal supporters wondered why Justin Trudeau issued a statement July 15 laying all the blame on Hamas but not calling on Israel to show any restraint. They were further outraged by a solidarity trip to Israel by two Toronto-area Liberal MPs, John McCallum and Carolyn Bennett paid for by the pro-Israeli lobby group, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.