A fairly short post concerning this latest comment from New Democratic Party Libby Davies.
“Longest occupation in the world”? Not even close. Poland was divided and occupied from 1795 to 1918, a far longer occupation than this by her numbers. So she isn’t even close to correct on that claim. What about “world consensus”? Even Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is against lifting the blockade as he believes it will bolster Hamas. Also, this call for a international probe into the events on the Mavi Marmara would, as Hot Air’s Allahpundit stated previously, first assume that Israel is guilty before even examining the facts. We’ve seen the videos, we know the facts, and we know who is to blame for the bloodshed. As for her claims on how hating the Israeli blockade of Gaza isn’t hating Israel itself, I would disagree. People like Libby Davies have a tendency to side with those who they view are “oppressed” by Israel, like Hamas and Hezbollah. We see this with Helen Thomas who wasn’t only applauded for her “courage” by the latter terrorist organization, but has in the past shown her appreciation for their “efforts” in ending the “Israeli occupation” in Lebanon. Scratch the surface a little and you see that these protesters are anti-Israel, if not anti-semitic.
Mike De Souza of Canwest News Service is reporting on this incident, and I recommend giving his article a read. If I were Jack Layton, Libby Davies would be have handing in her resignation already. He should be applauded for his efforts at damage control, especially reaching out to the Israeli embassy, but in order to prove he is sincere, I would tell him to cut this bigot loose. Do I think there are more within the NDP like Libby Davies? Of course, even “Taliban” Jack Layton has been caught on the wrong side of such issues in the past, but to his credit has distanced not only himself but his party from Davies’ nonsense. This idea that Israel has been an occupier since 1948 reeks of anti-semitism, and with the possibility of a federal election around the corner, such liabilities need to be dealt quickly and publicly, showing voters your party will not tolerate such nonsense. I don’t for one minute believe Davies’ “apologetic” words. She, like Helen Thomas, got caught speaking her mind on this issue, unaware of how such videos go “viral” when the hit the internet.
Such hateful idiocy doesn’t belong in Canadian federal politics, especially considering how radical Davies’ positions regarding Israel are. Hopefully when all is said and done, this twit will be removed from office for her bigotry… Pathetic…
UPDATE: Blazing Cat Fur is also reporting on this. He has a shorter video of the incident up, so if you don’t have five minutes to watch Libby Davies expose herself as an ignorant bigot, give it a watch.
UPDATE: What did I say about this international effort to smear Israel? Hot Air’s Allahpundit is reporting on United Nation Security Council (UNSC) efforts to have this “show trial” even if the United States, a permanent UNSC member, decides to veto it. I am sure Libby Davies and her ilk would appreciate that, taxpayer funded bigotry delivered by an incompetent world political body. Why does anyone even pay attention to the UN with all the scandals they have been wrapped up in recently? Disgraceful…
UPDATE: Our very own Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, weighs in on Libby Davies comments. Canwest News Service’s Mike De Souza has more on this.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper stepped up the pressure on the NDP’s Libby Davies to resign her position as her party’s deputy leader on Wednesday, accusing her of making “extremist” statements about Israel that were similar to the language used by terrorist organizations.
“The deputy leader of the NDP knew full well what she was saying,” Mr. Harper said during the daily question period in the House of Commons. “She made statements that could have been made by Hamas, Hezbollah or anybody else with no repercussions from that party whatsoever.”
Mr. Harper even suggested that NDP Leader Jack Layton should not be criticizing Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff for proposing a post-2011 training mission role for Canadian troops in Afghanistan, since he hasn’t adequately disciplined his MP. Hamas and Hezbollah are both on a Canadian government list of organizations considered to be terrorist groups that use violent means to achieve political goals.
“Quite frankly, I do not think that a leader who shelters an MP who makes anti-Israeli extremist statements without repercussion should be making any criticism of policy,” Mr. Harper said…
Strong words, and I agree with most of it. You don’t say such hateful things if you aren’t at the very least a Hamas and Hezbollah sympathizer. Occupation since 1948? That is a definitely an-Israel talking point. While I would like to see Libby Davies thrown out of the NDP, I don’t think Jack Layton should be criticized for taking his time in dealing with this bigot, especially considering that she is the deputy leader and not some party backbencher. It is a political move to discredit Layton, one which I have trouble supporting, although I have no use for the NDP and its politics. As I stated before, the “Taliban” Jack should be commended for his response to Davies’ comments, especially considering many of the people marching at these anti-Israel protests are NDP voters. Also, while I hate to admit it, I agree with Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff’s position on Canada’s Post-2011 Afghanistan role. While I would prefer our continued participation in combat missions, training Afghani forces isn’t an insignificant role.
I think the NDP will criticize anything done by the Canadian Armed Forces after the pullout, but I don’t think Layton should be criticized for of these positions because of the actions of one hateful bigot (unless “Taliban” Jack said these hateful things himself, I don’t see the connection). I commend Prime Minister Harper for weighing in on this incident, but let’s keep the attention on Libby Davies and not the party which is looking at expelling her for these radical remarks. Ottawa politics as usual it seems…
I really do think the NDP has a chance to be a party taken seriosuly by Canadians but again and again their leadership is nowhere to be found. Libby Davis and Jack Layton just turn people away from politics
The issue here is their politics. As of now the NDP are competing with Green and the Liberals wear they are sitting. The only way to change this is a further shift left, but then they scare away moderates. If the Liberals return to the center, the NDP still have the Greens to compete with. I personally don’t like the NDP, especially considering my time in China witnessing where those kind of politics lead to. They need to be realistic, they need to move closer to the center, and I don’t see that happening. Who knows though, maybe some of these former NDP members who have joined the Liberals will go back.
As for now, I don’t see it being taken seriously for a long time. Thanks for the comment anyways.
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