Canada cuts aid to Palestine

[lost&outofcontrol]

Wow, way to take a bold stand. I wonder: will we be also cutting ties with China? Saudi Arabia? I mean, it's one thing to take a stand against a "terrorist organization" like Hamas, but what about terrorist states? Really, the $29 million in aid to the P.A. the HarperCons are suspending is chump change compared to the $20 billion+ trade we do with the thugs in Beijing.

Would the funding of government overthrow by military dictatorship constitute terrorism? If so you could include the US in there as well. Funny enough, you could include Canada aswell . Like someone said earlier, everyones hands are dirty.

[Army Guy]

Wow, way to take a bold stand. I wonder: will we be also cutting ties with China? Saudi Arabia? I mean, it's one thing to take a stand against a "terrorist organization" like Hamas, but what about terrorist states? Really, the $29 million in aid to the P.A. the HarperCons are suspending is chump change compared to the $20 billion+ trade we do with the thugs in Beijing.

Thanks BD, it's good to have you back, educate me...

Is the sole purpose of the Chinese government the destruction of another nation through terrorism ? what about Saudi Arabia ? do they openily support terrorists and thier activities. Is most of thier governments made up of known terrorists. These nations are not angels by no means. But i find it alittle ironic that we have declared war on terrorism but only agree to fighting the little guys.

And are we saying that we are that dependant on "made in China" that we could not live with out that trade. just curious but how much trade do the chinese get from us "made in Canada". I mean could those labels not read Made in mexico, or tawain, some other 3 rd world nation. Or are we as a nation going to just puff our chests out when we know we can take that guy ,slam him, nobody will care.

[sami]

Is the sole purpose of the Chinese government the destruction of another nation through terrorism ?

Everyone forgot about tibet? taiwan?

Anyways, personal opinion. This is rookie move. If you wanted to pull aid, Harper should have waited for Hamas to make the first move. If Hama's comes out and renounces violence and reconizes Isreal, Canada would have jumped the gun. If Hama's decides to take up arms then Canada can pull its aid with legitimate cause.

[Hicksey]

About time.

Canada does not fund terrorism. Funding Hamas is akin to funding terrorism.

[Guest Warwick Green]

How can we PROMOTE democracy (not force, since that is the exact opposite), if we are unprepared to accept it's outcome. We need to extend an olive branch if we really want peace, and not punish the Palestinians for voting in the party they feel will best address their needs.

It's not unreasonable to put strings to foreign aid - in fact you hope that there are strings. Canada has already thrown the olive branch, "Mr Hamas, renounce violence and recognize Israel's right to exist and we will turn the money spiggot back on"

[Black Dog]

Is the sole purpose of the Chinese government the destruction of another nation through terrorism ? what about Saudi Arabia ? do they openily support terrorists and thier activities. Is most of thier governments made up of known terrorists. These nations are not angels by no means. But i find it alittle ironic that we have declared war on terrorism but only agree to fighting the little guys.

China doesn't have to use terrorism to destroy other nations: it has the military might to do it the old-fashioned way, which it's used in the past (Tibet) and will likely use again (Taiwan). Not to mention their record on human rights which make she Palestinian Authority look like the pikers they are. I'll wager China executes more enemies of the revolution a year or two than Hamas has killed Israelis in the course of its entire existence. Yet we do brisk business with them on the basis of the principle that close economic ties wil lead to a liberalization of the repressive state: why is that vision good enough for China, yet the P.A. must be isolated? Perhaps Hamas should pledge to build more sweat shops.

And are we saying that we are that dependant on "made in China" that we could not live with out that trade. just curious but how much trade do the chinese get from us "made in Canada". I mean could those labels not read Made in mexico, or tawain, some other 3 rd world nation.

In 2004 Canada exports to China valued $6.6 billion. The value of our imports from them was $24.1 billion.

Or are we as a nation going to just puff our chests out when we know we can take that guy ,slam him, nobody will care.

If you're saying that we're kicking the P.A. around because we can at little or no cost to us, the answer is yes.

[scribblet]

How can we PROMOTE democracy (not force, since that is the exact opposite), if we are unprepared to accept it's outcome. We need to extend an olive branch if we really want peace, and not punish the Palestinians for voting in the party they feel will best address their needs.

It's not unreasonable to put strings to foreign aid - in fact you hope that there are strings. Canada has already thrown the olive branch, "Mr Hamas, renounce violence and recognize Israel's right to exist and we will turn the money spiggot back on"

Hamas has allready refused to renounce violence, and refuses to recognize Israel's right to exist. Until they agree to both conditions, there should be no aid. All foreign aid should have strings attached and stringent controls, why should our tax dollars go to line the pocket of the local despots?

Palestine received billions in aid, what did they do with it - not much. Maybe if they used it to build up their infrastructure and economy instead of building bombs, they too would be able to 'make the desert bloom'

[Black Dog]

Hamas has allready refused to renounce violence, and refuses to recognize Israel's right to exist. Until they agree to both conditions, there should be no aid. All foreign aid should have strings attached and stringent controls, why should our tax dollars go to line the pocket of the local despots?

Hamas should renonce violence when Israel does. As for recognition, given that Israel (and its apologists) don't even recognize the existence of the Palestinian people in practice, I fail to see why the P.A. should pay the concept any lip service.

Palestine received billions in aid, what did they do with it - not much. Maybe if they used it to build up their infrastructure and economy instead of building bombs, they too would be able to 'make the desert bloom'

Why are people surprised that a country made of people with nothing, surrounded by a hostile armed nation, should have nothing? Obviously the Plaestinan leadership has proven corrupt, but accusations like the one above lay the blame at the feet of all Palestinians, a grossly unfair tactic, given their circumstances.

[GostHacked]

Not sure how to respond to this.

Comparing Nazi Germany to Palestine is pretty bad. To me it looks like Israel is systematicly taking over Palestinian land. Builing fences and walls around them for containment. Inhumane. Look I understand the Jews plight after WWII. My grandfather fought for the Germans in WWII and came over to Canada in the late 1940's He told me of horrible stuff commited by both sides of the war. So after WWII the Jews were given a nice peice of land in the Middle East. That 'country' has been growing ever since. I don't think any other county's land grab equals that of Israel since it was created. IN other words this is a form of sanctioned genocide.

With all due respect or at least as much as I can politely muster, your reference to tales your Nazis grandfather told you and "the Jews were given a nice peice of land in the Middle East" demonstrates an utter lack of historical perspective. As for "IN other words this is a form of sanctioned genocide" an unbelievable statement as I've ever seen on this forum.

FTA's analogy Nazis analogy is appropriate to Hamas, both elected government's founded and based on terror.

Now it appears you're making an analogy between Nazis and Israel and what Hamas are freedom fighters?

I did not start the comparison. One man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist. Look at how Israel is consistantly grabbing land over the last few decades. What I am tired of hearing is if anyone says anything against Jews or Israel , you are considered antisemetic. I don't hate the jews, I just don't agree with what they are doing to former land called Palestine.

For your records my Opa did not tell me 'the Jews were given a nice peice of land in the Middle East' and the sacntioned genocide are my statements, not his. It was my own conclusion. My Opa mostly spoke of the atrocities at Dresden, and his tours in Poland. His job was to help secure farming areas for the Nazis in Poland. I wish I could hear more from him, but he really does not like talking about those times. But as ArmyGuy is saying, I should look at just before Isreal was created.

And Black Dog, you seem to understand my thoughts and put them into better words.

[Montgomery Burns]

The news services are reporting that, after Israel, Canada is the first country to formally cut off funds to the Palestinian Authority:

Canada has become the first country after Israel to cut funding and diplomatic ties to the Palestinian Authority over the new Hamas government’s refusal to renounce violence. ...

“As you know, Hamas is a terrorist organization — listed in this country — and we cannot send any direct aid to an organization that refuses to renounce terrorist activity, refuses to renounce violence.”

Wow. Canada led the world when it came to taking a moral stance. That ain't liberal!

But it makes me proud. Things are looking up for this country already.

I was embarrassed when Paul Martin repeatedly said that Canada was friends with the PA.

[mcqueen625]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...?hub=TopStories

Canada is cutting aid and relations with the Palestinian Authority, Ottawa announced shortly after the Hamas government formally took power Wednesday.

The decision, which makes Canada the first country besides Israel to cut off aid.

Hammas is officialy IN, and aid is officially OUT. So now what? I thought we were commited to peace. Even a democraticly elected Palestinian Government should be recognized right?

Question, who recognizes Palestine's right to exist?

So I say, to be fair, we cut aid to Isreal (if we do send them aid) Only to be fair. This is for sure showing some bias on the Canadian Government. The only other country to cut aid to Palestine is Israel. I am guessing they do not recognize their right to exist. And Israel has stated they will define their borders with or without Palestine's help.

I think this was a hastey reaction to the situation and overall does not help anything. Wondering how you all think/feel of this situation.

Hamas has been listed as a terrorist organization by most countries in the world including the E.U. The issue of restoring aid is in Hamas' hands since all they have to do is renounce violence, agree to the signed peace initiatives, and admit to the concept that Israel has the right to exist in peace. THe ball is in Hamas' court!

[mcqueen625]

Idealist to the end, indeed.

Hamas is a terrorist organization. Their stated goal is to drive the democratic Israelis into the sea.

The IRA never came close to the terror that the displaced Arabs cause.

This death cult voted a terrorist organization into power.

It is absolutely disgusting the way the left sucks up to these terrorists. :angry:

OK fine, play it that way. That is something I EXPECT from the right.

An elected government. Weather you like it or not, the Palestinians voted Hamas in. Now you have to deal with it. Diplomaticly.

Seems like Israel will push the Palestinians to the sea before that happens. I mean with all that support from the US. And considering the sizes of both countries at the start of the century to what they are now dot dot dot. . .

idealist

'Remember, a man with a full belly and secure domicile is much less likely to strap explosives to himself and blow him up at some soon to be forgoten checkpoint then a starving man'

I very much like this statement.

Good for Canada. For starters Israe; has just as much right to that land as the Palestinians since both ethnic cultures originated in the Middle East. What give Palestinians the right to decide that Israel has no right to exist.

As an article I read in CFP pointed out, Hamas would be stupid to persist in their mandatte to eradicate all Jewish people and the State of Israel because if another Hamas suicide bomber light's himself up and kills more Israelis it will no longer be just a suicide bomber, it wil be an official declaration of war on Israel by the Palistinian people and Isreal will have every right to protect themself with lethel force. The article speculates that if Israel unleashes a full offensive against Palistine and their allies the fight will be over in very few hours with the devastation of Palenstine and her people.

[GostHacked]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...60407?hub=World

So more are cutting aid to Palestine. So they are going to collapse the economy there then it seems. Just makes it easier for the Palestinians to just give up.

[scribblet]

Hamas has allready refused to renounce violence, and refuses to recognize Israel's right to exist. Until they agree to both conditions, there should be no aid. All foreign aid should have strings attached and stringent controls, why should our tax dollars go to line the pocket of the local despots?

Hamas should renonce violence when Israel does. As for recognition, given that Israel (and its apologists) don't even recognize the existence of the Palestinian people in practice, I fail to see why the P.A. should pay the concept any lip service.

Why are people surprised that a country made of people with nothing, surrounded by a hostile armed nation, should have nothing? Obviously the Plaestinan leadership has proven corrupt, but accusations like the one above lay the blame at the feet of all Palestinians, a grossly unfair tactic, given their circumstances.

6 million Israelis are surrounded by 150 million hostile Arabs. The 'palestinians' would have more today if they concentrated on building an infrastructure and an economy instead of bombs.

The heart of the whole problem is the real goal of 'Palestinians - that of using violence and their kids as human bombs to achieve their wants rather than negotiating.

Israel is always blamed for something they never started, yes their position has been hawkish and tough, but who wouldn't be tough when they are killed indiscriminately almost on a daily basis.

The EU also said yesterday that they will be cutting off aid.

[Hollus]

Palestinians are killed on a daily basis by an occupying force. The difference is Israel have guns and Palestine dont. Its a war between an impovrished nation and an imperial supported rich one. Israeli terrorist group "Lehi conducted small-scale operations such as assassinations of British soldiers and police officers and, on occasion, Jewish "collaborators". Another strategy, (1947) was to send bombs in the mail to many British politicians. Other actions included sabotaging infrastructure targets: bridges, railroads, and oil refineries. Lehi financed their operations from private donations, extortion, and bank robbery."wiki The actions of these and other zionist terrorist groups of the time played a decisive role in pressuring the British Labour Party to support the zionist vision of Israel.

[seabee]

Someone once said that the difference between a terrorist and a soldier is that a soldier is a terrorist with a very, very big budget.

State terrorism is also terrorism.