Author
Ytzhak
EI's Ali Abunimah appeared on WBAI 99.5 FM in New York
City on Monday, July 17th, to discuss the Israeli attacks
on Lebanon and the international reaction as the Lebanese
civilian deaths toll rose to 200. The program is a
teach-in on the nature and causes of the ever widening
crisis between Israel, Palestine and Lebanon. Other guests
included Samia Halaby, Maymanah Farhat, Phyillis Bennis,
Stephen Zunes, Naseer Aruri, Josh Ruebner, Laila El-Haddad
and Jama Dajani.
EI's Ali Abunimah on WBAI 99.5 FM, New York City
The Middle East Exploding!, WBAI 99.5 FM, New York City, 17 July 2006
EI's Ali Abunimah appeared on WBAI 99.5 FM in New York
City on Monday, July 17th, to discuss the Israeli attacks
on Lebanon and the international reaction as the Lebanese
civilian deaths toll rose to 200. The program is a
teach-in on the nature and causes of the ever widening
crisis between Israel, Palestine and Lebanon. Other guests
included Samia Halaby, Maymanah Farhat, Phyillis Bennis,
Stephen Zunes, Naseer Aruri, Josh Ruebner, Laila El-Haddad
and Jama Dajani.
To listen go to:
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article5067.shtml
and
COMMUNIQUE: CANADIAN LIVES AT RISK BY HARPER GOVERNMENT
By Borys Wrzesnewskyj, Liberal MP for Etobicoke Centre- wrzesb@parl.gc.ca
July 17, 2006
For Immediate Release: Canadian lives put at risk by Conservative
government statements and inaction
OTTAWA - The first responsibility of any national leader is to protect his
or her own citizens. Twenty- to forty-thousand Canadians currently trapped
in Lebanon have been placed in jeopardy by Foreign Minister Peter MacKay’s
inaction and Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s comments.
Until last night (July 16), while European countries and the United States
were in the advanced stages of evacuating their citizens, Canada's Foreign
Affairs Minister Peter MacKay was missing in action. Foreign Affairs was
still advising that Canadians in Lebanon "should remain indoors and
minimize movement until further notice."
That’s exactly what the Al-Akhrass family was doing on Sunday, when an
Israeli missile struck the house they were in, killing Mrs. Al-Akhrass and
her four children: Salaan (age 1), Ahamed (age 3), Zeinab (age 5), and Saja
(age 7). Finally today, MacKay is haphazardly sending several cruise ships
to pick up over 20,000 Canadians by mid-week. There’s no plan as to how he
envisions the assembly and evacuation of the thousands of Canadians
dispersed throughout Lebanon.
The only method to safely evacuate is through a ceasefire. Last Friday, I
urged the Canadian government to undertake immediate and forceful
diplomatic action to bring about a 48-hour ceasefire in Lebanon to give
Canadians and other foreign nationals a chance to leave the country.
Hopes for a ceasefire have been jeopardized by Prime Minister Harper’s
comments that Israel’s response "has been measured." This has signaled that
Canada supports the continuation of these Israeli actions with thousands of
Canadians caught in the middle.
Canada used to be seen as an honest broker in the Middle East. Today, our
ability to speak with all sides has been lost.
Mr. Harper is the Prime Minister of Canada and his primary objective should
be the safety and protection of Canadian lives. The Prime Minister must
contact the Israeli Prime Minister to push for an immediate 48- to 72-hour
ceasefire, while other international leaders and bodies do the same with
Hamas and Hezbollah so that Canadians can be evacuated safely from Lebanon.
Such a ceasefire could also provide the Middle East with an opportunity to
step back from the brink [of war].
(Borys Wrzesnewskyj is a Liberal MP and the opposition Associate Critic for
Foreign Affairs. He can be reached at (416) 249-7322 or (613) 853-9001.
E-mail: wrzesb@parl.gc.ca
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