$, Diplomacy Soothe

"Of course, many words have been said last year (and) the year before by all of us. If we want to see ourselves (held) hostage to these words, then you know we cannot really move anywhere.
"I don't really stop at words here or there. I really look at concrete actions, projects, co-operation and commitments, and I've seen a lot of it from Canada, and I'm very much encouraged with it. And this is really how I want to see the relationship."
Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird walks with Palestinian Authority Foreign Affairs Minister Riad Malki following a meeting to discuss relations between Canada and the Palestinian Authority, Thursday September 19, 2013 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld   Photograph by: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld , Postmedia News

That is mature, it is conciliatory, it is diplomatic and it is useful to further relationships, to engage the other in a responsive and understanding frame of reference. Breaking quite notably from the PA's chief peace negotiator, Saeb Erekat who spoke last year of the Government of Canada as "more Israeli than the Israelis" ... that Canada had "disqualified themselves from playing any role in the Middle East peace process."

Even while, of course, accepting humanitarian aid that the Government of Canada doles out for the Palestinian cause. Which in and of itself is a peculiar thing. Given that the Palestinians declare themselves quite prepared to assume full sovereignty with all that it entails. It would entail, of course, providing full civil infrastructures and social services to the people they govern. Yet the Palestinians have never, ever made so much as a pretext to being financially independent.

Even while they and their Middle East supporters among the greater Arab and Muslim countries surrounding them continue to encourage them toward the attainment of their goal, it is the Europeans and the North Americans, not their neighbours who supply the financial wherewithal permitting them to exist as a quasi-national entity. And it is as well known among their financiers as it is among their electorate that the Authority members have very, very sticky fingers.

Which was a quite good reason for Canada to decide it would change its manner of funding the key UN agency (solely) dedicated to supporting the Palestinian 'refugees' wherever they happen to be within the region. The only group of people who have ever in the history of the United Nations refugee agency been treated to ongoing funding for the past 60 years of 'refugee' status.

Canada has not been in good odour in the Middle East under the Conservative-led government which made no bones about its preference to supporting a sole state sharing the same values as Canada's within a larger grouping of hostile states, whose values are distinctly offside, heavy on autocracy, dictatorships, tyrannies, sheikdoms, kingdoms and totalitarian theocracies. It just seems a better fit.

Canada distinguished itself offendingly to the Arab world when it was one of a handful of countries voting against upgrading Palestinian membership status at the United Nations last year. Stating its preference for a peace treaty between the State of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to take precedence before recognition of nationhood be conferred upon the PA. In reflection of how such steps are usually taken.

Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, John Baird, was as charmingly upbeat and conciliatory as his guest, as they met in Ottawa. Pledging an additional $5-million to top up the $25-million committed earlier in the year. As for being at cross purposes ... "Canada doesn't agree with the United States on every issue, but they're a close friend and ally", said Mr. Baird. "We don't agree with the Palestinians on every issue, and they don't agree with us on every issue. But I think the ties that bind are stronger than those differences."

Warm, friendly, full of expressions of goodwill. Canada, said Mr. Baird, is in full support of the current peace talks. While many believe that such talks represent a lost cause between Israel and the PA, Mr. Baird expressed another opinion, that of guarded optimism: "These issues aren't going to be settled or tackled overnight. But I think we should celebrate the success that the two parties are talking and both meaningfully trying to seek an end to the conflict."

Mr. Baird: From your mouth to God's ear.