What Backlash?

Oh, that one. The incautious remark that amounted to Israel's existence representing an affront to the international community? In that, since its nationhood in 1948 it has occupied territory, while ceded to it legally through international consensus and its own declaration as an independent state, it represents, in the opinion of many, an illegal entity whose existence was bought at the expense of a people already occupying the land upon which it sits.

Despite that there never was any "Palestine" that did not include its Jewish contingent. And the geography, handed over by a colonial occupying power, Great Britain, to Jordan (created by GB) -West Bank and Egypt - Gaza Strip - never did constitute a 'nation', or a 'country', but rather a geographic area peopled by an assortment of Arabs both Muslim and Christian, Druze, Jews, Europeans, all of whom viewed the land as their settlement.

Jewish historical connection to the land, with unassailable historical proof both archaeological and textual through the Old Testament recognized as a religious/historical document of great probity
testify to Jewish origins in the land in question. The Mandate for Palestine, preceding the UN General Assembly Partition Resolution of 1947 in general agreement of the need of a Jewish homeland gave authenticity and legality to Jewish nationhood in the State of Israel.

However, keen legal minds like that of NDP deputy leader, Libby Davies know in their very heart of hearts that the State of Israel has no business being in existence. She, like Helen Thomas, like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, like Bashar al-Assad, and others of their ilk, know that Israel is an evil, illegitimate entity that claims ownership of land belonging to another population entirely.

Libby Davies, despite her later denial of statement, of being misunderstood, of being a friend of Israel, apparently misses her great good friend Svend Robinson, with whom she doubtless bounced many a good description of Israel back and forth to their hearts' content. NDP leader Jack Layton did nothing to defang his former MP Robinson, and he is not particularly interested in declawing Ms. Davies, other than to deny her assertions reflect the position of the NDP.

Whereas Thomas Mulcair, in stating "No member of our caucus, whatever other title they have, is allowed to invent their own policy. We take decisions together, parties formulate policies together, and to say that you're personally in favour of boycott, divestment and sanctions for the only democracy in the Middle East is, as far as I'm concerned, grossly unacceptable", goes far in demonstrating leadership material.

As for Libby Davies, is that this Libby Davies, NDP Member of Parliament? A conspiracy theorist too?

New Democratic Party Deputy House Leader Libby Davies delivers a Parliamentary Petition signed by over 500 Canadians demanding a new 9/11 investigation, in Canada's House of Commons during Routine Proceedings at 1:10 pm on June 10, 2008

Here is the full text of the petition, available to sign at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/canada911truth/

PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED

We, the undersigned citizens of Canada draw the attention of the House to the following:

THAT, scientific and eyewitness evidence shows that the 9/11 Commission Report is a fraudulent document and that those behind the report are consciously or unconsciously guilty of covering up what happened on 9/11/2001. This evidence overwhelmingly supports the conclusion that World Trade Center Towers 1, 2 and 7 were brought down by demolition explosives and that the official theory of the towers collapsing from the airplanes and the ensuing fires is irrefutably false.

We further believe that elements within the US government were complicit in the murder of thousands of people on 9/11/2001. This event brought Canada into the so-called "War on Terror," it changed our domestic and foreign policies for the worse, and it will continue to have negative consequences for us all if we refuse to look at the facts.

THEREFORE, your petitioners call upon Parliament to:

(1) Immediately launch its own investigation into the events of 9/11/2001 on behalf of the 24 Canadian citizens murdered in New York City.

(2) Act lawfully on the findings of its own investigation by helping to pursue the guilty parties in the international courts.

Committed to truth and accountability,

Um yes, committed to truth and accountability. Who could conceivably argue with that?