Mr. Speaker, over the past 10 years I have watched the tragic situation in the occupied territories unfold. The situation in this region is both fragile and explosive. The February 25 massacre of Muslims praying in a Mosque in Hebron makes this tenuous peace initiative even more elusive.
Canada has long favoured diplomacy and negotiations to bombs and bullets. Canada has a long and internationally recognized record for its contributions toward the support of human rights and global peace. We have served in a peacekeeping capacity in the Middle East in the past. Our efforts in the Sinai in 1967 and the Golan Heights in 1973 were successful and did serve to alleviate tensions.
I believe that Canadian peacekeepers can again serve an important role in this region protecting human rights and promoting global peace.
I recommend to the hon. minister that Canada explore options which will allow it to contribute to a peaceful means to resolve this conflict and restore peace to the Middle East.