Baird’s east Jerusalem coffee date causes diplomatic flap

Toronto Globe & Mail ^ | April 12, 2013 | PATRICK MARTIN

[Former Proud Canadian]

When Foreign Minister John Baird crossed the Green Line this week to meet with Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni in the mostly Arab sector of east Jerusalem, he broke with 46 years of Canadian government and Western policy. But was it by accident or design?

snip

“Either he’s ignorant of east Jerusalem being occupied territory, which is unforgivable in a foreign minister,” said Hanan Ashrawi, spokeswoman for the Palestine Liberation Organization that rules the West Bank, “or it’s a deliberate attempt to change the international consensus.”

In either case, Ms. Ashrawi said, it sets “a very dangerous precedent.”

snip

Nabil Shaath, a former foreign minister for the Palestinian Authority (said)“It is a slap in the face to the Palestinian people,” he said, and it “undermines efforts by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to restart negotiations.”

snip

The Israeli Prime Minister’s spokesman, Mr. Regev,(said) “Israel appreciates Canada’s moral stand on a range of issues, and we appreciate Canada’s friendship. My Prime Minister has praised Prime Minister [Stephen] Harper and Foreign Minister [John] Baird on numerous occasions.”

[Former Proud Canadian]

We must be doing something right judging from the official comments.

[yldstrk]

“east Jerusalem being occupied territory”

what tripe

[faithhopecharity]

CONGRATULATIONS CANADA!

(Let’s all tell the PLO to go to HELL!)

[Para-Ord.45]

Did he bring his BF , Rick Mercer ?

So goes the scuttlebutt on the Hill.

[Squawk 8888]

To all- please ping me to Canadian topics.

Canada Ping!

[Former Proud Canadian]

Really? Living in the hinterland, I kind of miss Frank magazine.

How is Baird treated on Mercer's show? Inquiring minds want to know.

[fanfan]

Oh Yeah!

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Former Proud Canadian.

When Foreign Minister John Baird crossed the Green Line this week to meet with Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni in the mostly Arab sector of east Jerusalem, he broke with 46 years of Canadian government and Western policy.

Eastern Jerusalem has been illegally occupied by Arab squatters since 1948.

[Dartman]

“It is a slap in the face to the Palestinian people,” he said, and it “undermines efforts by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to restart negotiations.”

Just read that a couple of times and you'll know the difference between Baird and Kerry.

[Former Proud Canadian]

My first thought is that sometimes people need a slap in the face.

If you belong to a group that thinks it's smart to lob rockets into Israel, maybe you need a slap in the face and a kick in the ass also.