Bob Rae: so it began…
The morphing of Canada’s ambassador to the UN, Bob Rae—from hostile critic of the Palestinians, to waffler on Israel’s war on Gaza, to advocate for ceasefire.
All in a day’s work for a man who never seems to bite the hand that feeds him.
8 Oct. 2023: The day after 7 Oct., Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations Bob Rae said there’s “no question in (his) mind” Iran is involved in the attacks on Israel.
“That’s very clear to me,” Bob Rae told CTV’s Question Period host in an interview.
He said further, “I don’t know how you can come up with another conclusion. Iranians are very actively engaged in supporting forces outside their country that seek the destruction of Israel. That’s not paranoia. That’s evidence, and we know that.”
“And I think it’s something we have to understand, none of this stuff is accidental and Iran, of all the countries in the Middle East, does not accept the existence of the State of Israel.”
At the same time, Reuters one of the world’s top media outlets reported that Iran, meanwhile, has not claimed any involvement, and has said the attacks by Hamas on Israel are an act of self-defence.
However, according to US media giant CBS and The New York Times, the U.S. had intelligence indicating senior Iranian officials were “surprised by the Hamas-led terror attack on Israel”. Iran did not claim responsibility for the attack, which suggested it was not directly involved the the 7 Oct assault.
11 Oct: CFJC Today (in Kamloops BC) reported that
“[Bob] Rae, surely one of the most candid and articulate spokespersons when it comes to Canadian values, said this: ‘Those who are so quick to turn to ‘both sideism’ and ‘whataboutism’ should absorb this picture of an Israeli woman being driven in an open-air cart through the streets of Gaza. What ‘context’ justifies or excuses this cruelty?’”
19 Oct: The Toronto Star reported that Rae “in a voice tinged with frustration” insisted, “It [the assault by Hamas] was planned, systematically planned. It was fuelled, it was fired, it was paid for, it was built, not by Hamas alone in Gaza, but by an entire supply system, by a supply chain of people and of materiel. This was a planned attack. It was about as spontaneous as the Normandy invasion.”
Star reporter Tonda MacCharles noted, “Rae also pushed back at those who would blame Israel for creating the conditions that brought on the attacks, saying Israel could never be expected to allow a free flow of people back and forth across a border ‘when the regime that’s in charge of it is clearly intending to destroy the State of Israel, and destroy the Jewish people in the Middle East.’”
24 Oct: Bob Rae called for the destruction of Hamas. “Any organization like this has to be destroyed,” Rae wrote on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter, last Thursday.
Two murals on opposite walls of the main hall at the UN. Both painted by Fernand Leger in 1955.
27 Oct: Canada abstained on a UN motion calling for an “immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce” (a pause in hostilities) in the Gaza Strip. Rae moved an amendment to acknowledge that Israel’s tactics were the result of terrorist attacks by Hamas and its “deliberate cruelty”. When that motion failed, Rae abstained from supporting the main motion for a ceasefire.
The shift begins: change in politics
14 Dec: — After Canada voted in favour of a UN resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, UN Bob Rae said “we have to try” for a two-state solution. “The situation on the ground is changing. It’s getting worse. We have to respond to that in a humanitarian way,” Rae told CBC-TV’s Power & Politics. Canada joined 153 countries to support a ceasefire, 10 countries voted no.
21 Feb 2024: On CBC-Radio’s The Current, Rae suddenly pushed back against the idea that Hamas had infiltrated UNWRA. Rae said, “Maintaining the integrity of UNRWA and other international institutions that are working in the region is exceptionally important. But the idea that, somehow, the whole organization has been infiltrated by Hamas, I don’t believe that’s true.”
8 March: Canada announced it was resuming funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and would help support the airdrop of Canadian-funded supplies into Gaza.
Bob Rae said Gaza was in an “appalling” humanitarian situation, and the Canadian government felt it couldn’t “afford to wait for the length of time that it’s taking” for the Israelis to share information related to their UNRWA probe.
Rae said the information coming from Israel was “dribs and drabs.” Israel had yet to even meet with the investigating team.
“So frankly, we have to move,” Rae said. “We can’t allow all of that investigatory work to get in the way of a humanitarian need… I think it strikes the right balance. I think it’s taking everybody’s views into account, but it’s also giving the priority to people and, in particular, to the most needy and most desperate people.”
8 March: Rae told CTV News that the ongoing political pressure and citizen protests in Canada directed at federal politicians’ handling of the Israel-Gaza war did “not at all” factor into the government’s decision in this case.
Rae’s revealing interview in JURIST magazine
14 March: In an interview with law student Pitasanna Shanmugathas in JURIST Legal News and Commentary magazine Bob Rae defended Israel’s right to self defence. At the same time Rae stood firmly on the principle that the conduct of any party in a war—”[be it] Israel, Hamas, [or] anyone else—has to be held to account. No one is above the rule of law, including Canada,” said Rae.
Shanmugathas pointed out that when Canada’s weapons components are sold to US arms companies, and then given to Israel, those components are used in Israel’s offensive in Gaza. Shanmugathas said, “I think that is the criticism that is made, and as a result of that, it implicates Canada directly in human rights abuses.” Rae’s response was “Well, I don’t agree with your assumption, and I don’t agree with your assertion.”
Shanmugathas noted that Canada has consistently voted against UNGA (UN General Assembly) resolutions criticizing Israeli settlement building in the Occupied Territories– even though Global Affairs Canada’s own policy explicitly recognizes Israeli settlements in the occupied territory as illegal under international law. Rae’s response evaded the issue. Rae insisted “Our position is very clear. We consider the settlements to be illegal. That position has not changed. …We support the establishment of a Palestinian state. We believe in a two-state solution.”
When Shanmugarthas asked about Canada cutting off its funding to UNWRA, Rae said it was not true. Rae said Canada was up to date in its commitment to UNWRA and based on findings about whether Hamas had infiltrated UNWRA, a decision would be made about continuing Canada’s payments. Rae said, “I have found it interesting that you have not asked me any question s on what happened on Oct. 7th and what we are doing about the responsibility of those who committed a series of atrocities.” He went on to say “We believe in the rule of law. We believe that any breaches of human rights law, whether committed by Hamas—an organization that Canada considers to be a terrorist organization—and I think given the events of October 7th we feel that is a legitimate description, we continue to call for the rule of law.” He then refused to admit that the 112 Palestinians killed and the 750 injured when Israeli snipers opened fire on the desperate crowd waiting for food—was also against the “rule of law”.
Bob Rae is all in favour of respect for the “rule of law”. However when Israel kills more than 33,000 Palestinians in cold blood by Israel’s helicopter gunships, drones, missiles and bombs where exactly is the rule of law?
Featured photo at the top: Palestinians run along a street as humanitarian aid is airdropped in Gaza City on March 1. Photo: AFP via Getty Images
Share this:
Related
On Palestine…Oct. 31October 31, 2023In "Arabs"
Reaping the whirlwindOctober 13, 2023In "Apartheid"
US & Israel celebrate in Jerusalem, as the Whole World watches the Bloodbath in GazaMay 15, 2018
Post navigation
PreviousPalestine: belabouring the issue
Leave a comment
Write a comment...