Harper wants 'durable' Gaza ceasefire

But the prime minister steered clear of any contentious or detailed statement in his first public remarks since Israel launched air and ground attacks on Hamas terrorists in Gaza.

"We would like to see a ceasefire, but an efficient and durable ceasefire," Harper told reporters in Montreal Friday. "We have asked for the ceasefire to both parties in this conflict. Our position is clear."

Harper's brief remarks on the conflict came after he faced criticism earlier in the day for staying silent since the start of the Israeli air and land attack on Dec. 27.

The remarks came one day after the United Nations Security Council called for a ceasefire and full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

Harper was heavily criticized in 2006 for saying Israel's attacks on Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon were a "measured" response to the earlier kidnapping of Israeli soldiers.

Earlier Friday, the National Council on Canada-Arab Relations called on the Harper government to apologize for its steadfast support of Israel's right of self-defence.

The council said it was inappropriate for Peter Kent, minister of state for foreign affairs, to speculate earlier this week that Israel's bombing of a United Nations school was the fault of Hamas terrorists because they chose to hide among innocent civilians.

Council vice-president Mark Khoury accused Kent of "completely absolving the Israeli military of these attacks, when no information was yet available."

Khoury said Canada should reconsider its support of Israel in light of the unusually sharp criticism by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations.

The ICRC accused the Israeli military of unacceptable behaviour for failing to meet its international humanitarian legal obligations to care for the wounded.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights called Friday for an independent investigation into violations of international humanitarian law, pointing to "Israel's totally unacceptable strikes" on UN civilian shelters as well as the continuing rocket attacks by Hamas on Israel.

In light of those concerns, Khoury said the Harper government in Ottawa is displaying a "very disconnected position" to the situation in Gaza.

"This gives us great worry about their lack of comprehension of the situation over there," said Khoury, adding Canada is "woefully ignoring" its responsibilities to uphold the Geneva Conventions.

Shimon Fogel, the chief executive of the Canada-Israel Committee, said all sides recognize the suffering of Palestinians, but criticized the National Council on Canada-Arab Relations for being too soft on Hamas.

"By failing to recognize that they represent the core obstacle to advancing the peace process and reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians, they are, in effect, betraying the Palestinian cause," Fogel said, adding he was "encouraged and gratified" by the Harper's approach to the Middle East.

-- Canwest News Service

He also praised Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff, who earlier this week condemned Hamas rocket attacks on Israel, as being "equally constructive in his comments."

-- Canwest News Service

"We call on Canada to condemn Israel's actions in the strongest terms possible, to reconsider trade and other treaties with Israel, to increase its aid contribution to the Palestinians in Gaza, to apologize for the irresponsible comments made by junior foreign minister, Mr. Peter Kent," said Samah Sabawi, a council board member.

She said Harper's silence on the conflict for nearly two weeks, along with his government's pro-Israeli stance, was compounding the suffering of Palestinian-Canadians.

"We're all wondering, when is our prime minister going to acknowledge the pain of the Palestinian-Canadian community and the pain that they're feeling and the fact that they're burying their loved ones for a senseless act of violence committed upon them," Sabawi said.

Shimon Fogel, the chief executive of the Canada-Israel Committee, said all sides recognize the suffering of Palestinians, but criticized the National Council on Canada-Arab Relations for being too soft on Hamas.

"By failing to recognize that they represent the core obstacle to advancing the peace process and reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians, they are, in effect, betraying the Palestinian cause," Fogel said, adding he was "encouraged and gratified" by the Harper's approach to the Middle East.

He also praised Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff, who earlier this week condemned Hamas rocket attacks on Israel, as being "equally constructive in his comments."

-- Canwest News Service

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 10, 2009 A11