[tadamon-l] Canadian Press: Cornwall - Protesters urge prime minister to call for immediate ceasefire in Mideast

[Tadamon!]

Canadian Press:
Protesters urge prime minister to call for immediate ceasefire in Mideast

Jennifer Ditchburn, Canadian Press
Published: Saturday, August 05, 2006

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=c1d7100f-16a1-4ba1-971f-31a12ffce162&k=15853

CORNWALL, Ont. (CP) - Protesters accused Prime Minister Stephen Harper of 
toeing the American line on the Middle East conflict, as they rallied 
Friday outside the site of the Conservative caucus meeting.

About 80 people, mostly from Montreal, urged Harper to call for an 
immediate ceasefire in the region. So far, the Conservative government has 
supported a ceasefire only as long as certain conditions are met, such as 
a halt to attacks by both Hezbollah and the Israeli army.

"I'm astounded at the injustice of Harper's position in terms of 
unconditionally supporting Israel when at this point in time the civilian 
death count is over 900," said Jordan Topp, who has taught in Lebanon and 
has friends there.

"People have been killed across the country in Lebanon, and it's not what 
he's called a 'measured' response."

Demonstrators waved Lebanese flags and placards at passing motorists 
outside the Nav Canada facility, which is inaccessible to everyone but 
guests there. They chanted slogans such as "Harper stop fighting, come out 
and face the justice!"

Daad Elsaadi of Finch, Ont., said she and her husband had planned to visit 
Lebanon where they owned property, but instead donated the money from the 
plane ticket to humanitarian assistance.

"My house burned, my land burned, my olive trees burned, my walnut trees 
burned, and I don't care," cried Elsaadi.

"I only care for the innocent people and for the children who are dying, 
for the women who are giving birth in the backyard and their children are 
dying."

Later, staff members from Harper's office invited two of the protesters 
inside to meet with Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay and with 
Industry Minister Maxime Bernier.

Harper has called Israel's attacks on Lebanon to neutralize the threat of 
Hezbollah a "measured" response. But that assessment has apparently hurt 
the party in recent weeks, with a pair of polls suggesting that support 
for the Conservatives, and their Middle East policy, is sliding.

Jerome Charaoui of Montreal said Harper has hurt the positive image that 
Canada has had among Arab states.

"Traditionally, they've regarded Canada as a peaceful country, as a 
mediator between countries, and will now only see Canada as being aligned 
with George Bush's imperial policy in the Middle East," said Charaoui, 
whose relatives in Lebanon are in hiding.

Said Hafizi, an Afghani-Canadian, comforted his school-aged daughter who 
began crying on the fringes of the protest.

"I have kids, I have a family, and I know the value of that," Hafizi said. 
"These people are killing like butchers. They don't feel what they are 
doing and this is not right."

The Conservative caucus was scheduled to end a three-day summer caucus 
meeting later Friday. Harper was expected to announce additional financial 
assistance to the region.

-----------------------