By Conrad Black
The stormy debate in the House of Commons over the NDP’s motion to recognize a Palestinian state, ending with a profound last-minute government modification of the bill, revealed the widespread misunderstanding in Canadian official circles of the nature of the present conflict in Gaza. As originally formulated, while the NDP motion unambiguously recognized the right of Israel to exist, implicitly as a Jewish state, it ascribed no blame whatever to Hamas, which has governed Gaza for over 16 years, for the outbreak of the present war.
No such motion could remotely be acceptable in the legislature of any country that
authentically wishes a just resolution of the ancient conflict in the Middle East now raging in Gaza. It is not six months ago that Hamas, which Canada recognizes as a terrorist organization, violated a long-agreed ceasefire with Israel, invaded that country by land, sea, air, and tunnel, and brutally massacred approximately 1,200 Israelis, 85 percent of them civilians and many of those women, the very young, and the elderly. In many cases, women and children were violated and murdered in the most depraved and sadistic manner imaginable, with the declared objective of incurring the greatest possible revulsion in Israel and the rest of the civilized world. It was a vintage case of premeditated terrorism. It was also the greatest single death toll of Jews in one day since the end of the Holocaust, with the liberation of the Nazi death camps in the last weeks of the Second World War in Europe, not excluding the wars of survival that Israel was forced to wage in 1948, 1967, and
1973, as well as the Suez War of 1956. Israel suffered a loss of life that was proportionately 20 times as great as the American loss of life at Pearl Harbor, which was at least almost entirely confined to personnel of the United States Navy, and in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, in New York and Washington. Israel immediately announced that it was at war, formally confirmed that condition, and formed an all-party national unity government representing all shadings of opinion among the almost 80 percent Jewish population of that country, which was created by the United Nations as a Jewish state and homeland in 1948.
2 As formulated—and this same misconception affected much of the debate over the NDP measure—the atrocities of Oct. 7, 2023, were treated as just another border incident in the long history of skirmishing between Israel and extreme Muslim entities on its borders. The character of that onslaught was intended by its authors and accepted by its victims to be an act of war, not just a border incident, and this was stubbornly ignored by the New Democrats in composing their bill. They presented what amounted to a no-fault motion, seeking the restoration of a peace that has never existed since Israel unilaterally and voluntarily withdrew
from Gaza in 2006. The real problem in the Arab/Israel conflict has been successfully reduced to a dispute between Israel and the adjoining territories, whose status has not been agreed upon, which claim to represent a nationality separate and distinct from the other Arab countries in the area, and who further deny that the Jews have any right to a Jewish state. This is no longer a view that is shared by the Arab powers who, despite the customary window-dressing of support for the Palestinians, are sitting conspicuously on their hands. They detest the Muslim terrorists just as much as the Israelis do and are ultimately more threatened by them than Israel is.
Opinion by Zanna Linskaia:
Dear Mr. Conrad Black,
I appreciate your honest and courage attempt to explain to your readers the true
history of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians that has lasted long before
establishment of the Jewish state in 1948. The most of liberals and leftist democrats become blind, deaf and dumb when we are talking about Jews.
Not only Canada, UK and France changed their policies to support Israel defending itself, but also they do not care about more than 130 hostages left and taken by Hamas to Gaza. Nobody knows how many of them alive, but from evidence of realized people - young girls and women were kept in Gaza as domestic and sex slaves by Palestinian civilians, not only by Hamas terrorists.
The last agreement by Israeli government to release 800 terrorists in exchange for 40 hostages again was declined by Hamas - and yet US lets UN ceasefire resolution pass. Is it not a betrayal and hypocrisy by close Israeli ally? And what about recent trip and meeting in West Bank with Mahmud Abbas by our precious Foreign Minister Melanie Joly and Liberal minister Ya’ara Saks? This Palestinian leader is well known for his anti-Semitic views, denial of Holocaust, October 7 massacre, and sending payments to terrorists for killing Jews.
Nevertheless, the photo of two lovely ladies holding hands with criminal and smiling, was circulated through the world media.
You write about “innocent Palestinians”, but majority of them still support Oct.7
massacre and want Hamas to control Gaza after the war. Another aspect in this tragedy - UNRWA and all UN policy. “I am sure there are Hamas members on the UNRWA payroll and I don’t see that as a crime”- said a former commissioner General. He is not alone. After documents and videos sent by Israeli Intelligence to approve participation of UNRWA 30 employees in Massacre and wide celebration of Palestinians on Oct.7, the Western countries including Canada and USA continue to send millions of dollars to this agency supporting terrorists. The cruel murder and sadist Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was an UNRWA teacher and Dr.Talal Naji is a Secretary General of PFLP terroristic group.
UNRWA US collects donations and transfers all its funds to UN which distribute it to Hamas. Anti-Israeli activists of this agency sent 3,8 millions before Massacre to Gaza. This money busted Hamas. “Hamas is not a terror group for us, it is a political movement” - this is argument of Martin Griffiths, Secretary general of Human Affairs in UN. At the same time the West leaders Macron, Biden, Trudeau, Cameron, Obama and the rest of the worldwide traitors and hypocrites call relocation of civilians from Rafah in order to save them, a “war crime”. How long Israel can be a scapegoat in this injuncted and deceitful world?
Zanna, I agree with you 100%. However, you are preaching to the converted, as Conrad Black fully understands what is going on. A similar e mail to our „smart“ PM Trudeau and to the ministers Joly and Hussen and Saks would be a good thing.
Your insights are always appreciated.