Canada must do more to bring an end to the unconscionable death and destruction in Gaza
Israel has killed more than 60,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the best estimates, including some 18,500 children. Israel's devastating bombardment has destroyed or damaged some 90 per cent of the territory's homes. The hospitals are gone. The schools are gone. The journalists, artists, academics — many, if not most, are gone. Millions of Palestinians, so many of them children, now find themselves without access to water, food or medical care. Pictures of emaciated toddlers, desperate and starving, will haunt the world for decades to come. As will reports of Israeli soldiers killing hungry Palestinians as they scrabbled for scant aid.
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Montreal Gazette
10 hours ago
- Montreal Gazette
Letters: Thanks for the good-news story; Insp. Gamache would approve
Thank you for your refreshing article on Louise Penny's Café Three Pines. It is a welcome diversion for readers from the usual mean-spirited, misleading and discriminatory rhetoric of certain politicians and their enablers north and south of the border. As Inspector Armand Gamache would say: Goodness exists, light will banish the shadows and kindness is more powerful that cruelty. Brian Burke, Montreal West Parade no place for foreign flags Re: ' Jewish LGBTQ2+ group excluded from Pride parade ' (The Gazette, Aug. 1) If the presence of the Israeli flag at Montreal's Pride parade would be 'unacceptable,' as claimed by singer-songwriter Safia Nolin, then perhaps all national flags should be banned from the parade except those of Canada and Quebec. Many nations are guilty of injustices against their own citizens or their neighbours, and banning all foreign flags would achieve neutrality. Bruce Couchman, Toronto A wealth tax could backfire Raphaël Melançon notes that one of Transition Montréal's 'main promises is to further tax the city's so-called 'ultra-wealthy' — those who own a single-family home or luxury condo worth more than $3.5 million. Craig Sauvé, the leader of the new municipal party, 'wants to use the resulting revenue to fund homelessness initiatives, saying it could double the current funding for such programs,' Melançon writes. While a wealth tax would appeal to some citizens, I expect it would probably raise only a pittance. Net result: Such a tax might backfire because rich people can simply sell and move to cities that provide better services at lower tax rates. Gary Bernstein, N.D.G. Invest in students, not legal battles Re: 'English boards will fight for education funding ' (The Gazette, July 29) and ' Province pledges $540M for student services ' (The Gazette, July 18) Condescending remarks aimed at Education Minister Bernard Drainville and threats of a lawsuit spearheaded by the Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA) are not particularly helpful in addressing the current education funding issue, in my view. In contrast, consider the joint announcement issued by the presidents of the Fédération des comités de parents du Québec (FCPQ, Mélanie Laviolette) and the English Parents' Committee Association (EPCA, Katherine Korakakis), which expressed relief when the province decided to allocate 'up to' $540 million for student services. They took a positive outlook, noting that the changes are 'less dire than expected.' I believe QESBA should reassess its approach and adopt the parents' constructive response, which reflects a shared hope for ongoing collaboration in the education sector. Moreover, by investing education tax dollars in classrooms instead of expensive court battles, we can genuinely improve the quality of education and build a brighter future for our students. Chris Eustace, Pierrefonds Submitting a letter to the editor Letters should be sent by email to letters@ We prioritize letters that respond to, or are inspired by, articles published by The Gazette. If you are responding to a specific article, let us know which one. Letters should be sent uniquely to us. The shorter they are — ideally, fewer than 200 words — the greater the chance of publication. Timing, clarity, factual accuracy and tone are all important, as is whether the writer has something new to add to the conversation. We reserve the right to edit and condense all letters. Care is taken to preserve the core of the writer's argument. Our policy is not to publish anonymous letters, those with pseudonyms or 'open letters' addressed to third parties. Letters are published with the author's full name and city or neighbourhood/borough of residence. Include a phone number and address to help verify identity; these will not be published. We will not indicate to you whether your letter will be published. If it has not been published within 10 days or so, it is not likely to be.
Winnipeg Free Press
10 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
France and Saudis vow to keep up momentum for ‘two-state solution' to Israel-Palestinian conflict
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — After decades of inaction and frozen negotiations, the issue of an independent Palestinian state living in peace with Israel returned to the spotlight at a high-level U.N. conference — and France and Saudi Arabia, which spearheaded the effort, are determined to keep up the momentum. But hurdles for a two-state solution that would see Israel living side-by-side with an independent Palestine are very high. War in Gaza — a crucial part of a hoped-for Palestinian state — drags on with escalating violence in the West Bank, the other main component. And Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing government vehemently oppose an independent Palestinian state, which the Israeli leader says would be a reward for terrorism after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attacks against his country. Nonetheless, after eight decades of conflict between Israel and Palestinians, pressure is growing for a two-state solution, as last week's high-level U.N. conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia demonstrated — even if it was boycotted by Israel and its close ally, the United States. The conference illustrated that many believe a political solution is possible The French U.N. ambassador, Jerome Bonnafont, conceded in an Associated Press interview that without a Gaza ceasefire and massive humanitarian aid for over 2 million Palestinians sliding toward famine, 'it will be extremely difficult to move forward to define a new way of administering Gaza as part of Palestine' – and he said these are priority issues. But the conference demonstrated that a majority of the U.N.'s 193 member nations are 'convinced that there is a possibility of a political solution,' he said, and that is 'what its follow-up will continue to promote.' About 160 of the U.N.'s 193 member nations participated, 125 spoke in support of a two-state solution (forcing the meeting into an unexpected third day), and between 40 and 50 were represented by a government minister. An independent state of Palestine is recognized by over 145 countries, and the meeting sparked new pledges of recognition by three of the seven members of the powerful Group of Seven — France, United Kingdom and Canada — as well as Malta. A statement by seven others, including Australia, New Zealand, Finland and Portugal, expressed 'positive consideration' of following suit. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farham are determined not to let the spotlight fade. They are planning 'an event' during the annual gathering of world leaders at the General Assembly, which starts Sept. 23, when the new pledges are expected to be officially announced. The conference was notable for being co-chaired by an Arab and Western nation, and for setting up eight working groups with diverse chairs to make proposals on key issues for a two state solution — security for Israel and an independent Palestine, political reforms, legal problems, humanitarian assistance, economic development and Gaza reconstruction, to name some. The result was a seven-page 'New York Declaration.' The French and Saudi foreign ministers sent the declaration, with a lengthy annex of recommendations from the working groups, to all 193 U.N. members and asked them to endorse it by early September, before the world leaders' gathering. The declaration, which also was endorsed by the European Union and Arab League, urges Israel to commit to a Palestinian state, and urges further recognitions as 'an essential and indispensable component of the achievement of the two-state solution.' The declaration contains some stronger language For the first time, the Arab League's 22 member nations condemned 'the attacks committed by Hamas against civilians' in southern Israel on Oct. 7, and agree that 'Hamas must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority.' It sets out a plan to then move to an independent, demilitarized Palestine, including deployment of a U.N. Security Council-mandated 'temporary international stabilization mission' supported by the Palestinian Authority. It would protect civilians, help build support for a Palestinian state and its security forces, and provide 'security guarantees for Palestine and Israel.' Richard Gowan, the International Crisis Group's U.N. director, gave French President Emmanuel Macron credit 'for raising the level of ambition for the conference,' and helping make it 'more symbolically significant than many diplomats expected.' The meeting gave weighty states including France, Britain and Canada the opportunity 'to signal their discontent with Israeli policy,' he said, and it gave Palestinians seeking a peaceful road to statehood 'some political ammunition.' Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who hosted a Hamas delegation in Istanbul last week to discuss Gaza's humanitarian crisis and stalled ceasefire talks, noted growing global support for the Palestinians and a Palestinian state — and Israel's increasing isolation. Bonnafont, the French ambassador, had messages for Israel's opponents and Israelis seeking more territory. 'We say to those who are hostile to Israel, the way to peace is certainly not to deny the right of existence to Israel. This is the way to perpetual war,' Bonnafont said. 'And the real way to defend the Palestinians is to give them a state, and the only way to give them a state is a two-state solution — and we have demonstrated concretely that this solution exists and is feasible.'
Toronto Sun
13 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
EDITORIAL: PM's terrible choice to create Palestine
Mahmoud Abbas, President of Palestine, places his hand on his heart as he pauses while speaking during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the United Nations headquarters on Sept. 26, 2024 in New York City. Photo by Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images While we disagree with Prime Minister Mark Carney's decision to conditionally recognize a new Palestinian state at a United Nations vote in September, what is appalling is his touting of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to create it. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Abbas, 89, elected in 2005, cancelled future elections. He has been accused of supporting terrorism through the PA's Martyrs' Fund, which makes payments to the families of dead or imprisoned terrorists. Abbas terminated these 'Pay for Slay' payments earlier this year, but critics say the change is largely cosmetic and payments continue in other forms. Polls show most Palestinians believe the PA, which has received billions of dollars in foreign aid, is corrupt and that Abbas should resign. Given all this, what Carney describes as Abbas' 'commitment' to 'fundamentally reform' the Palestinian Authority's governance and 'to hold general elections in 2026,' is suspect at best. So is his 'commitment' that Hamas will play no part in that election, given that Abbas' Fatah party only controls the West Bank, while Hamas rules in Gaza. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Then there's Abbas' history of antisemitic remarks and minimizing or denying the Holocaust. In 2018, he said Jews brought on the Holocaust themselves, not because of antisemitism, but because they engaged in money lending, which then-foreign affairs minister Chrystia Freeland condemned as antisemitism, calling for Abbas to apologize. While he did at the time, describing the Holocaust as the 'most heinous crime in history,' he repeated his 2018 smear against Jews two years ago in a speech to the Fatah Revolutionary Council. In 1984, he published a book – The Other Side: the Secret Relationship Between Nazism and Zionism – based on his 1982 PhD dissertation at a Russian university. In it, he falsely claimed Zionists were 'fundamental partners' of the Nazis and that it was a 'myth' and 'fantastic lie' that Hitler murdered six million Jews, citing figures of '890,000' or 'a few hundred thousand' instead. A decade later, he said he wrote the book while Israelis and Palestinians were at war and wouldn't make such statements today. Many Canadian Jews were understandably appalled when then-foreign affairs minister Melanie Joly and then-Liberal cabinet minister Ya'ara Saks posed for a photo holding hands with Abbas last year. Imagine their level of alarm now. Read More Columnists Opinion Wrestling Toronto & GTA NHL
