Charlie, would you be able to slide Frenchy Mulcair's into that conversation anywhere? Seems everyone on the left wants to give him a pass on his seemingly contradictory positions on his stance toward Israel, including Libby et al who just want the warm glow of the current love in to continue forever. Why derail it with issues and positions.

“You can be an ardent supporter of a country and say that something that they’re doing in that case has to be changed. But it doesn’t mean you’re not a supporter of the country. You have to be very careful with those words. What I’m saying is I’m not going to use my opposition to something that they’re doing as an excuse to call for an end to the state of Israel, which is what some of the adversaries of Israel do”, said Frenchy recently.

Apparently Frenchy can see his way through illegal settlements and deportations and all those pesky UN resolutions and pretty much everything they have said and done since Day 1, to get to a best pals of Canada and our values conclusion. A real politician he is.

Does anyone have enough guts to call him out on the flagrant double-talk? Seems that everyone runs for the hills when threatened with the potential anti-Semite label from the Semites.

Marci McDonald's theory about B'nai B'rith is completely believable. B'nai B'rith Canada today is just a mouthpiece of the current extreme right wing Israeli government under Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu and his cronies are completely out of control in their treatment of Palestinians and in their catering to the settler movement. The continued approval of new settlements and the continued demolition of Palestinian owned properties says all that needs to be said about where this government is coming from.

And the so-called peace process? There is no question that the state of Israel has a right to exist and to be able to live without fear of terrorist attacks along its borders. The same can be said about the right of Palestinian people to have their own state where they can live in peace. However, Netanyahu and his cronies have absolutely no interest in any sort of peace agreement, despite any empty statements to the contrary.

It is well past the time for Israel's friends to make it plain that their support is not unconditional and then take appropriate action when Israel crosses the line in its treatment of Palestinians. If B'nai B'rith, and the Stephen Harper government for that matter, want to be seen as credible on the subject of Israel they must take that approach.

Arthur, Is there some particular reason you insist on referring to him as "Frenchy Mulclair"? Is it some lame attempt at being clever, funny....or what? If you can't remember his first name for some reason, how about just Mr. Mulclair? Or even just Mulclair? No need to be a jerk. Besides, his mother was French Canadian but his father was Irish Canadian and Thomas Did you call Jack Layton Frenchy too? Because Mulclair lives in a predominantly English suburb of Montreal about 15minutes from where Jack Layton grew up.

As for the accusations that he is not pro Israel "enough"... Good God, don't these organizations have better, more important things to worry about or release statements on? I mean really, when is anyone going to tell them to get a life already. A week or two ago on the National Post website, I came across an entire article dedicated to lamenting the fact that he was Thomas Mulclair is allegedly just not pro Israel enough, unlike our pathetic PM, who is groupie #1 - as we all know.

Hello people, time to acknowledge how absurd this is. If it was any other country, we would collectively, loudly and rightfully laugh at hearing people like Stephen Harper and John Baird say hilarious things like Canada and Israel share the same values and commitment to human rights! I mean, seriously.

Anyone want to remind these organizations that been uncritically, unconditionally Israel apologists to the point of attacking any comment even perceived to be critical of Israel's actions, policies -let alone, abuses- that home demolitions and land confiscation (theft) from Palestinians for redistribution to Jewish only illegal settlements has drastically increased in recent months?

Perhaps they could also mention a few of the items on the very long list of outrageous abuses, discrimination and institutionalized racism both in Israel proper and in the occupied territories? I'd be happy to suggest a few, starting with the blocking of critical humanitarian aid from entry into the territories, to the water being diverted to Israel and the settlements, to fill swimming pools and water green lawns, as Palestinians have access to less water than the absolute minimum recommended, and often even that amount is contaminated, making many children as well as adults sick.

Or the frequent night raids, arrests and prolonged detention of minors without any charges or fair judicial process, which doesn't really scream "we care about human rights" to me.

Neither do the incidents such as the recent video where settlers are seen invading a Palestinian village, setting fire to trees and then shooting a Palestinian in the head all while a soldier is seen standing beside the shooter, doing absolutely nothing to stop him. The soldier is there to protect the settlers, not Palestinians - this could not be any clearer.

Also in the news last week: attacks on refugees in Israel. Racist, hateful public comments by members of the government, referring to refugees as infiltrators, calling for

Wait for it....

B'nai Brith used to be a useful and important Jewish organization, but it has done nothing but lose credibility over the past 15 years or so -- maybe even longer. It's now rabidly anti-Palestine and has even raised funds among right-wing Jews by nazifying the Palestinians. Any organization that would exploit the vulnerabilities of the Jewish community in this way has no place in a self-respecting society.

As for Mulcaire, one of his less attractive qualities is his pro-Zionist, pro-occupation position. If he were really smart, he'd rethink that position, now that he's being criticized for not being pro-Israel enough. B'nai Brith's attack on him is to be expected: it's not enough merely to be pro-Israel; you have to be a slobbering sycophant if you want to pass the pro-Israel test.

For example, just look at what right-wing Israel Firsters are doing to Peter Beinart in the US. Beinart's book *The Crisis of Zionism* stands as proof of Beinart's devotion to Israel, yet it's not in lockstep with Bibi Netanyahu and Avidor Liebermann; therefore, the book has yet to have anything but ruinous reviews in the American mainstream media.

It used to be tough to be a critic of Israel policy. Now it's even tougher to be a supporter.

The good news is that there simply aren't that many people, even within the Jewish community, who are all that hawkish. B'nai Brith can say what they like, and they'll find a certain degree of traction within a certain constituency (and yes, some there with money and power), but ultimately there are far more people who share views like Mr. Mulcair's than Frank Dimant's.

Wait for it................

It would have been nice for Charlie to, at least, explain to the Straight readers, that Marci McDonald is a shrill and discredited anti-Israel and anti-Christian activist.

To make his point, perhaps, Charlie Smith should have used a more credible and unbiased source.

McDonald surely isn't a bearer of truth!!

@equal op
If Marci MacDonald is a "shrill and discredited anti-Israel and
anti-Christian activist" That's quite a mix; both anti Israel and
Christian activism -wow, And she's discredited too, eh? Her shilling is that credited shilling? She points out the hidden from public by the good old main stream media facts of Harper's very un-Canadian values religious beliefs- and the
I'll do anything for power government, and she's the shill.What the hell? Maybe she's opposite views from yours, but Harper is a monster that's destroying what used to be a nice little country. Good for her.

Wow. While the R.O.C. (rest of Canadians) really don't want to inject themselves into this dispute! Really we want Louis Riel's vision of Canada: where the oppressed peoples of the world can come to live in peace! Leave your disputes in your home countries.