They are an elected political party, and have engaged in significant reconstruction following the devastating war in Lebanon. Contrary to ‘creating chaos’ in Lebanon, they are performing many of the municipal services one would expect of a government.

I’m no big fan of Hezbollah’s foreign actions, particularly their attacks on Israel following their retreat. However, I can see that nothing is as black and white as you seem to think. All sides involved in the region are guilty. Including us.

Actually, I was referring to the hospitals, schools, orphanages, food distribution centres, and other social services provided by Hezbollah. They serve many functions normally provided by a government. Only 4 countries in the world brand Hezbollah as a terrorist organization: Israel, USA, Canada, and the Netherlands. Still think it’s so black & white?

I should also correct myself; Hezbollah has helped the Lebanese – their involvement in Palestine is relatively limited.

Matthew, well done! Who the hell wants Rae back anyway after giving us his beloved Rae Days?

It is a troubled area of the world, and everyone carries some blame. Unwavering, unquestioning support for any side is not helpful.

For their part, Hezbollah, for all their faults, also does a great deal of good for the Palestinians. It might be popular to brand them a terrorist organization and refuse to deal with them, but that doesn’t help to solve the underlying problems.

While I was not aware of this and think this definately adds to the legitimacy of the Prime Minister’s concerns over the matter, I’d be more interested in hearing who the MPs were that shot down the motion. Unfortunately, when calls for unanimous motions are made, there isn’t the same detailed level of vote taking that happens with a bill or another type of motion. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that some Bloc and NDP members in particular were the source of those nos although the Liberal Party seems to be getting gradually more anti-semitic with time, as Archie and Greg pointed out.

In Hansard on Thursday 08 May, 2008, it is recorded that Mr. Pierre Paquette moved that the House pass a motion regarding the 60th anniversary of Israel. Here is his motion:

(from Hansard, Thursday, 08 May 2008)

Mr. Pierre Paquette:
Mr. Speaker, I seek the unanimous consent of the House to adopt the following motion: That the House acknowledge the 60th anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel and highlight that this is an opportunity to celebrate Israel’s entry into the community of nations, its many cultural, economic and scientific achievements as a free, democratic society, and the special relationship between the governments of Canada and Israel; and that the House agree to reaffirm Canadians’ unwavering support for Israel’s right to live peacefully and safely within secure, recognized borders, for the peace efforts undertaken by the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and for the creation of a future democratic Palestinian state living peacefully and safely next to its Israeli neighbour within secure, recognized borders.

[Table of Contents]

The Speaker:
Does the hon. member for Joliette have the unanimous consent of the House to move this motion?

Some hon. members: Agreed.

Some hon. members: No.

Why would any MP not agree to that motion? To me, it seemed an innocent enough motion. Does it not prove anti-Israeli sentiment in the House of Commons?

Would appreciate your thoughts on this as no one has has brought it up as far as I know.

Bob Rae was the target of anti-Semitic attacks during the Liberal leadership contest, motivated at least in part by the fact that his wife is Jewish.

Sources close to Rae say that his wife, Arlene Perly Rae, was approached during last weekend’s convention by a delegate who didn’t realize she was the candidate’s wife. The delegate told her not to vote for Rae “because his wife is Jewish.”

Perly Rae stonily informed the delegate that she was the wife in question. The delegate beat a hasty retreat.

The incident might have been shrugged off if it had been an isolated event. But Rae team insiders contend it was part of a larger pattern of anti-Semitic smears on Rae, who finished third.

A flyer was circulated electronically among convention delegates denouncing Rae for having once delivered a speech to the Jewish National Fund, a group the flyer said was complicit in “war crimes and ethnic cleansing.”

Rae’s is just playing politics, I wouldn’t worry to much about it.