Standing By Israel

Not many do.  And those that do, do so with conditions.  Expectations that Israel must meet to earn that loyalty, diluted as it is.  Of course we're talking generally about national administrations, and in democracies they come and they go.  Politics and sympathy toward a fellow democracy that finds itself in a tough geography, one where it is imperilled by its very democratic nature compounded by the misfortune of an ethnic/religious identity not shared by the neighbours.

"True friends are measured by whether they are there for you when you need them most.  Canada ... stands by Israel's side", pledged and assured John Baird, Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister.  And his assurance fell on grateful ears.  Those so pleased with the stand that he and his government have taken on behalf of those whom they represent - with the full knowledge that a large demographic stands in viral opposition to that stance - that he has merited honouring.

Where else but at the Negev Dinner of the Jewish National Fund of Ottawa.  During this critical time - among many that Israel has been forced to undergo - when its existence is once again targeted and threatened by the malign force of Islamist terror, true friends are hard to come by and when they are recognized it is with gratitude.  Canada stands alone among like countries, refusing to clamour along with them that Israel's response to grave confrontations must be 'proportionate'.

Nor does Canada call, as Europe and the United States and the United Nations, along with the Arab League have done, for an immediate and urgent ceasefire to the hostilities that have been a constant fact of life for Israel, brought to a head by its latest response to hundreds of unguided rockets being sent across the border from Gaza to make life a misery and an existential threat to a million Israelis.

"Hamas is targeting innocent civilians with an onslaught of rockets.  It's a despicable act of terror, and yet as Israel responds, as it has every right to, it is the target of condemnation.  If any other state were suffering from terrorism as Israel does today, there would be no question of its right to defend itself", acknowledged Minister Baird, denouncing the double standard to which Israel is treated by the international community.

And just as Israel has been subjected to condemnation, "a litany of hatred" has been unleashed within Canada itself toward the federal government for its support of Israel.  And just as the federal government has been condemned for its support of Israel so too has Mr. Baird been, enduring a "barrage of vile reaction" to his expressed support for Israel.

The reality of the situation between Israel and Hamas is straightforward enough.  Israel is the injured party, a nation threatened by annihilation from some of its neighbours, inclusive of the terrorist entity Hamas in Gaza.  Hamas, however, feels entitled to dictate terms of a cease-fire, heady with the success of knowing that the new Muslim Brotherhood-led government in Egypt will back it, that the Emir of Qatar and the governing Islamist party in Turkey do as well.

Hamas feels it holds all the trump cards, and it insists that Israel halt its attacks on Gaza, lift restrictions on trade and movement through the blockade, and stop its pinpoint targeting of Hamas elite for assassination.  Leaving it free to do as it will; more readily import the means of destroying Israel, and securing the safety of its top-flight leaders as it does so.  It feels entitled to demand that Israel sit by while Hamas continues to plot its extinction.

For its part, Israel will recognize a truce with the cessation of rocket-fire within Israel; an end to weapons smuggling into Gaza, along with international guarantees that Hamas not rearm or use Egypt's Sinai region to stage attacks into Israel.  "If a long-term solution can be put in place by diplomatic means, Israel will be a willing partner", vowed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.  Knowing full well the remote likelihood of such a guaranty.

"No country would tolerate rocket attacks against its cities and against its civilians.  Israel cannot tolerate such attacks", the Prime Minister reiterated to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in Jerusalem.  Agreed, concurred Ban Ki-moon, recommending that Israel hold its fire.  Israeli warplanes had dropped leaflets on several Gaza neighbourhoods urging residents to evacuate, to take themselves out of harm's way.  The army, said the leaflets "is not targeting any of you, and doesn't want to harm you or your families".

In contrast to Hamas and Islamic Jihad's intentional firing of rockets into civilian enclaves, towns and cities, meaning to make victims of as many civilians as possible.  They make no distinction between combatants and Israeli civilians, regarding both as adversaries to be killed, if at all possible.  Rockets are sent at random with the hopes that they will inflict as much damage as possible. 

There are no celebrations in Israel when the IDF knocks out rocket launching pads. There is loud jubilation in Gaza when news of a strike injuring or inflicting injury on Israelis is received.  And the UN's Ban Ki-moon condemns Palestinian rocket attacks, and at the same time urges Israel to show "maximum restraint", for "further escalation benefits no one."