Harper acuses Liberals as being Anti Israel

JAh-man · October 12, 2006

Harper has accused the liberal candidates of being anti Israel.. Considdering none of the Jewish ridings in the city voted for him maybe he should let them know.. I would love to see a list of the things Harper is against, but it would be too long to read.. Enough is enough, this guy should be over thrown.. He's a disgrace to our country..

jdobbin · October 12, 2006

Harper has accused the liberal candidates of being anti Israel.. Considdering none of the Jewish ridings in the city voted for him maybe he should let them know.. I would love to see a list of the things Harper is against, but it would be too long to read.. Enough is enough, this guy should be over thrown.. He's a disgrace to our country..

I think Harper's comment is over the top. Anti-Israel?

Any criticism of Israel's policies is anti-Israeli?

JAh-man · October 12, 2006

There's abig difference to being against decisions Israels government has made, and being completely against the very concept of Israel existing..

August1991 · October 12, 2006

For the record, here's what Harper said (as reported by the CBC):

Michael Ignatieff's comments that the Israeli air strike in Qana was a war crime reflect the "anti-Israeli position" of most of the Liberal leadership contenders, the prime minister said Thursday.
"Well, that's a serious charge," Stephen Harper said when asked about Ignatieff's comments. "As you know, I don't support that view."

"Frankly, I think, though, this is consistent with the anti-Israeli position that has been taken by virtually all of the candidates for the Liberal leadership. And I don't think it's helpful or useful."

Here's how Kennedy described Harper's comment:

Asked by CBC News about Harper's accusation, Liberal leadership candidate Gerard Kennedy said he shouldn't have to dignify the prime minister's remarks with a response. But he added that he's on the record for supporting Israel and being a friend of the state.
"Mr. Harper really diminished his post of prime minister by being so unstatesmanlike," Kennedy said.

And Dion:

"I think it's not prime ministerial," Dion told CBC News. "The prime minister is dividing communities, dividing the nation for clearly partisan purposes."

There you have the Liberals - they want to be friends with everyone: Hizballah, Hamas, Israel.

I notice the CBC doesn't have a quote for Rae. BTW, Rae's decision to leave the NDP concerned, among other things, its policy about Israel.

bradco · October 12, 2006

Harper has accused the liberal candidates of being anti Israel.. Considdering none of the Jewish ridings in the city voted for him maybe he should let them know.. I would love to see a list of the things Harper is against, but it would be too long to read.. Enough is enough, this guy should be over thrown.. He's a disgrace to our country..

I think Harper's comment is over the top. Anti-Israel?

Any criticism of Israel's policies is anti-Israeli?

Yup sure is, according to the right wingers. Its part of the your either with us or against us nonsense. I dont like to think of myself as anti/pro Israel or Palestine or Iran etc. If any country does something I think is wrong Ill call them on it. Blanket support for anyone is stupid. Saying that Ignatieff does not have the right to have a legal opinion on a subject without being branded anti-Israel is ridiculous. Its a dishonest comment. If Harper disagrees with Ignatieffs legal opinion come out and say that and have a honest debate on the issue. Im so tired of all the politicians in this country. I like Igantieff because I believe that he is willing to debate issues faithfully without getting to name calling. Academics are usually like that. And to clarify I disagree with Ignatieff on many things....I just respect his honesty in debating issues.

August1991 · October 12, 2006

Ignatieff's co-chair in Toronto resigned over his remark so Harper's not alone in his opinion.

OTOH, I think Harper has said this in part because he believes it (and I think Harper's right too) but also because Harper's comment will put the cat among the pigeons.

geoffrey · October 12, 2006

Ignatieff offered no constructive criticism, just a blunt Israel commited a war crime.

Do I agree with Israel's operation choices during that conflict? Not at all. But all my responses, and responses of many other concerned conservatives has been constructive... how can we ensure Israel is protected while ensuring the minimal amount of innocent bystanders are killed? How can you eliminate Hezbollah without as much collateral damage?

Did Ignatieff address any of these points? Did he offer support of Israel's right to defense, but then say 'hey guys, next time tone it down a little, be a little more focused?'" No. He simply said Israel commited a war crime.

How silly and very unstatesmen like. It seems like we are back to the days of Liberal name calling without any real elaborating on the reasons or solutions to the problems.

Canadian Blue · October 12, 2006

The problem I find is that Ignatieff did a a huge flip flop on the issue. He believes that saying what happened in Lebanon was a war crime will get him more votes in the leadership race, which is pretty typical of most Liberals unfortunately since they have become corrupted by the belief only they deserve to run this country. Harper has supported Israel, but lets think for one minute here, if a country kidnapped our soldiers how exactly would you want to respond. Especially if this country wanted to wipe you off the face of the earth. Israel has gone through more pressure then most democratic countries, and is the one singled out and attacked constantly.

Either way, its a poor show of leadership on the part of Ignatieff to simply troll for votes instead of actaully standing on principle which is the reason why the Liberals should be wiped out the next election.

Higgly · October 12, 2006

I notice the CBC doesn't have a quote for Rae. BTW, Rae's decision to leave the NDP concerned, among other things, its policy about Israel.

Rae might have a few pithy words. His wife and kids are Jewish.

Figleaf · October 12, 2006

Harper's comments were a smear job, pure and simple. (Like most posts on this thread.) In fact, Harper never seems to miss any opportunity to take a cheap shot.

scribblet · October 12, 2006

Oh gee, maybe he's just getting back at the liberals for all their cheap shots - now that would take some catching up with.

Actually, I agree with Harper for the most part, I love the way he's getting the liberals all worked up LOL

gerryhatrick · October 12, 2006

There you have the Liberals - they want to be friends with everyone: Hizballah, Hamas, Israel.

That's as despicable and partisan as Harpers comments.

The equivalent would be me saying Conservatives all want to send gays to jail. Let's not spout such nonsense, ok?

Canadian Blue · October 12, 2006

That's as despicable and partisan as Harpers comments.

Or for that matter saying that the conservatives are going to turn Canada into a police state by placing troops in all Canadian cities because of an increase in funding to the CF.

I like seeing Liberals getting this riled up, despite all of the smear campaigns against their primary opponents. Harper's comments were pretty tame compared to being called a holocaust denier, bigot, homophobe, xenophobe, and all of that BS. All simply because of a difference in policy.

Topaz · October 12, 2006

Harper and the rest of the Cons are doing what the US Cons told him to do. Divide and conquer the opposition party! The only problem is Harper as the PM of Canada makes him looks worse than the whatever the Lib said!!!! One thing these politicans must understand that VOTERS aren't stupid anymore and we are even one step ahead of them. As I saw before the Fed. election, Harper hasn't had enough experience in politics and now its showing!

B. Max · October 12, 2006

Michael Ignatieff's comments that the Israeli air strike in Qana was a war crime reflect the "anti-Israeli position" of most of the Liberal leadership contenders, the prime minister said Thursday.

"Well, that's a serious charge," Stephen Harper said when asked about Ignatieff's comments. "As you know, I don't support that view."

"Frankly, I think, though, this is consistent with the anti-Israeli position that has been taken by virtually all of the candidates for the Liberal leadership. And I don't think it's helpful or useful."

Harper is only stating what should be obvous to everyone. Unfortunately liberals can't stand the way others see them.

jdobbin · October 12, 2006

There you have the Liberals - they want to be friends with everyone: Hizballah, Hamas, Israel.

That is something I didn't read in Harper's remarks.

newbie · October 13, 2006

Typical reaction of the cons to blow this out of proportion. Iggy aplogized by the way for his comments re Qana and this is his response after Kadis withdrew her support:

"I believe that war crimes were committed in the war in Lebanon, I don't think there's any question about it, and war crimes were visited on Israeli civilians and they were visited on Lebanese civilians," he said.

"We've got to be determined as Canadians to do whatever we can to make sure that military solutions are not sought in this conflict because the consequences are just more civilian death."

link

betsy · October 13, 2006

Well, apparently some Jews agree with Harper's assessment. How many Jews had defected from the Liberals since the Lebanon war?

gerryhatrick · October 13, 2006

Well, apparently some Jews agree with Harper's assessment. How many Jews had defected from the Liberals since the Lebanon war?

Do you believe Jews are as monolithic and stupid as that?

Argus · October 13, 2006

Harper has accused the liberal candidates of being anti Israel.. Considdering none of the Jewish ridings in the city voted for him maybe he should let them know.. I would love to see a list of the things Harper is against, but it would be too long to read.. Enough is enough, this guy should be over thrown.. He's a disgrace to our country..

Uh huh. How dare the prime minister give an opinion you don't agree with! Of course he should be "overthrown" for that!

Love that strange lefty concept of democracy.

Argus · October 13, 2006

There you have the Liberals - they want to be friends with everyone: Hizballah, Hamas, Israel.

That's as despicable and partisan as Harpers comments.

The equivalent would be me saying Conservatives all want to send gays to jail. Let's not spout such nonsense, ok?

Have any Conservative MPs said they want to send gays to jail? You know, as opposed to the Liberal MPs calling for talks with Hezbollah, and for them to be removed from the terrorist list, calling Israel war criminals, etc.?

Argus · October 13, 2006

Harper's comments were a smear job, pure and simple. (Like most posts on this thread.) In fact, Harper never seems to miss any opportunity to take a cheap shot.

As opposed to the Liberals pushing through a motion in the House demanding the Conservatives live up to the Liberals' pledge on Kyoto even though the Liberals made it impossible to do so?

gerryhatrick · October 13, 2006

There you have the Liberals - they want to be friends with everyone: Hizballah, Hamas, Israel.

That's as despicable and partisan as Harpers comments.

The equivalent would be me saying Conservatives all want to send gays to jail. Let's not spout such nonsense, ok?

Have any Conservative MPs said they want to send gays to jail?

http://allpoliticsnow.com/content/view/25/1/

Canadian Alliance close enough for ya?

:lol:

Biblio Bibuli · October 13, 2006

Typical reaction of the cons to blow this out of proportion. Iggy aplogized by the way for his comments re Qana and this is his response after Kadis withdrew her support:
"I believe that war crimes were committed in the war in Lebanon, I don't think there's any question about it, and war crimes were visited on Israeli civilians and they were visited on Lebanese civilians," he said.

"We've got to be determined as Canadians to do whatever we can to make sure that military solutions are not sought in this conflict because the consequences are just more civilian death."

link

Kadis will come back to him. It may take a while though ... maybe not until Tuesday.

bradco · October 13, 2006

I just wonder how a legal interpretation of one single event makes someone anti-Israel. This is what Harper is implictly trying to state. And its wrong. I dont know Iggys policy towards the war as a whole. Did he consider Israels broader actions to be legal or illegal? Even if he considered them illegal its still a legal opinion and doesnt necessarily render him "anti-Israel". As long as he can put forth somewhat of a legitmate argument.

I would like to pose a question to posters. Does anyone here actually believe Israel to be completely innocent and to have no blood on their hands? I will agree that they were attacked and had an inherent right to self defense. The vast majority of their actions were within the parameters of proportionality and necessity. There are maybe a few bombings where proportionality gets a little fuzzy. But some of their actions, while the legal question is fuzzy, were definetly morally questionable. The use of cluster bombs in urban areas is pretty low and ought to be made completely illegal. Im not trying to argue that Israel is more guilty or worse than Hezbollah or any other actors, as the rightists will undoubtatly say I am. All im saying is that they are not completely innocent and not all of their actions should be accepted because of the terrible things other actors do. Harper seems to give blanket support to Israel and I would like to see him reconfirm that international laws and norms are important. I would also like to see our PM take a leading role in banning the use of weapons like cluster bombs in urban areas.