Canada Suspends Assistance to Palestinians

[Lone_Star_Dem]

By BETH DUFF-BROWN
Associated Press Writer

Canada said Wednesday it was suspending assistance to the Palestinian Authority because the new Hamas-led government refuses to renounce violence and recognize Israel. Hamas responded that Ottawa's decision was hasty and unfair.

It was the first government besides Israel to cut off financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority since Hamas won the legislative elections in January, and other nations were expected to follow suit.

Hamas formally took power Wednesday, with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas swearing in its 24-member Cabinet.

Hamas and new Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh insist they won't soften the militant group's violent ideology or formally recognize its longtime nemesis.
http://interestalert.com/story/siteia.shtml?Story=st/sn/03290006aaa029bf.ap&Sys=siteia&Fid=FRONTPAG&Type=News&Filter=Front%20Page

[Jim Sagle]

1. Canada RRRRRAWWWWWWWKSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!

[Coastie for Truth]

2. And they are not anti-Palestinian

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society's North American fund raising office is in Canada, and when you contribute on line your credit card indicates a "US to Canadian" conversion. But, Israel's "Red Star of David Society" has had to go to Court to gain the same preferred tax status.

So, if there's a tilt, to this Red Cross volunteer it is in favor of the Palestinians. (I really don't think there is a bias - just noting the Israeli Red Star of David issue in Canada).

[theobscure]

3. didn't take long......

....for the new Conservative government in Canada to get in lockstep with the Bush administration. I guess I'll have to find another country to daydream about moving to some day.

[LynnTheDem]

6. No worries, Harper won't be in office for long.

:)

[AlamoDemoc]

4. Harper government should remember that Canadians

didn't elect his government to align with * foreign policy. Harper government is still in incubator as government.

[LynnTheDem]

5. Harper wants to be just like bush.

Harper needs to go buh bye.

[HuffleClaw]

7. harper is such a bush tool

he is, piece by piece, destroying any chance of his being re-elected.

[Bassic]

12. I'm not so sure about that.

I think he's going to have ample time to run his neo-con policies without having to fear a) an election, and b) Losing said election.

The current state of the Libs will be of great help to him. That is why he's not allowing anyone to even come close to hearing his ministers talk. A lot of them are fuckin retarded and he doesen't want them fucking up his moment.

I get the feeling that if there is an election within two years, he'll win.

That pisses me off so much.....

[Posteritatis]

8. I'm torn on this one

On the one hand, I really don't like the idea of punishing a country for a relatively fair election which didn't turn out the way "we" wanted. That's a rather vile thing to do, and I would rather Canada not do that.

On the other hand, Hamas ain't nice guys when it comes to the violence or existence-of-Israel planks. That is also a vile thing, and I would rather Canada not support that.

On a third hand, they did do plenty of good for the Palestinian population in terms of providing a lot of basic services like health and education. I like Hamas marginally less than I like the Republican Party, but I'll give credit where credit is due.

On a fourth hand (my spinal column has mad bandwidth, yo), I'm not sure if that's nearly enough to make up for the second point.

So yeah, maybe I need to record possible responses onto a many-sided die and throw it, 'cause I don't know exactly what to make of this. :P

[hopeisaplace]

9. You got the whole world in your hands :)

:P
lol, couldn't resist

[rfkrfk]

10. putside money is bad

it goes straight to the crooks, making
life more difficult for the guy in
the street.

[rfkrfk]

11. outside money,,,,oops, no text