Given that the parties involved in a conflict have the obligation to respect international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian persons in Times of War and the Protocol Additional to the Geneva Convention of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts, which are an absolute imperative in the conduct of war and place personal criminal responsibility on those involved;
Louise Arbour recently called this to mind.
The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs: Offers its sincere condolences to the families of Canadians who have died during the Israeli bombardment of Lebanon and deplores the lack of compassion shown by the government;
I'm referring here to Canadian victims; that's why I've not mentioned victims in Israel.
Questions the government's delay in implementing an evacuation plan for Canadian citizens in Lebanon, calls upon it to extend the evacuations to Canadian permanent residents [...]
We discussed that matter this morning.
[...] and to implement concrete measures to help those who are in the southern part of Lebanon [...]
As Marian Mourani so aptly described.
[...] where the hostilities are the most intense;
No one disagrees with that.
Recommends that the government hold a public inquiry into the evacuation operation as soon as possible and draw lessons from this experience;
During the evacuation Swedish nationals praised their government for its efforts. The tsunami proved to be a nightmare for Sweden but it drew on the experience gained from the ensuing inquiry.
Condemns the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah;
Condemns the Israeli bombings that followed the two kidnappings as not respecting the principle of proportionality that contrains the right to self defence;
Believes that the Government of Canada, the only country in the world to have called Israel's attack on Lebanon “measured”, not taking into account the extent of the destruction of civilian infrastructures, destroyed Canada's reputation as a trusted third party abroad, and urges it to reconsider its position to conclude in the disproportionate character of those attacks;
Strongly condemns the launching of Hezbollah rockets on Israeli territory;
Strongly condemns the bombings that affect in an indiscriminate way civilians [...]
Like those in Qana.
[...] and destroy civilian infrastructures essential to the populations such as roads, bridges, airports and electricity plants;
Among other things.
Urges the government to support the calls of almost all other countries for an immediate ceasfire on both sides;
Urges the government to require Israel, by the time a ceasefire -- which should be immediate -- is declared, to make a far greater and more credible effort to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure;
Strongly deplores that, by taking sides, the government has prevented Canada from playing a conciliatory role in restoring and maintaining peace in the region;
Questions the Prime Minister's weak reaction to the bombardment of the UN post that led to the death of a Canadian UN military observer;
Reminds the government that Canada's official foreign policy is still based on the need to resolve the conflict through negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians and the Arab world and that the Committee expressed this same opinion in its report on Canada's relations wtih countries of the Muslim world, adopted unanimously on March 25, 2004;
Considers that there will be no peace in the region without a global and negotiated settlement of the Israel-Palestine conflict;
Maintains that the use of force will never resolve the conflicts in the Middle East;
Reiterates its commitment to the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of Lebanon and deplores that the damage caused by the bombardment has weakened the ability of the Lebanese government to effectively oversee its territory; Calls on the Government of Canada to provide aid to Lebanon so that the Lebanese Government, with the help of the international community, can peacefully disarm the militias; Urges the government to announce an assistance plan for Lebanon that is appropriate to the needs; Decides to report this resolution to the House, including its preamble.
I truly hope the committee will vote in favour of this motion which is carefully drafted in accordance with international law and international humanitarian law and which seeks a fair peace, a peace that recognizes that armed conflict will never resolve the conflicts throughout the Middle East, in particular the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.There can be no talk of Lebanon and Hezbollah without reference to the Palestinian cause. Need we remind people that Hezbollah was founded in 1982 further to another Israeli invasion.
This is, in my view, a balanced motion. It may seem harshly worded to some . It wasn't an easy motion to draft. I would have preferred to skirt certain issues. However, as members of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, if we want to be respected and to wield any kind of influence, we must adopt a stand consistent with international law and international humanatarian law. We must call a spade a spade. Compassion, truth and justice are the key consideration. I'm not saying by any means that this motion cannot be amended. However, I do hope that overall, it will garner the committee's support.