An online petition on Change.org is calling on the Norwegian Nobel Committee to reject Prime Minister’s Stephen Harper pending nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize. Meanwhile, Canadians reacting to the proposal seem to be echoing this fact: Harper is no Lester B. Pearson, the late Canadian intellectual, soldier, diplomat and former prime minister who was awarded the prestigious prize in 1957 for his role in resolving the Suez Canal Crisis.
Last week, Frank Dimant, the CEO of the B’nai Brith Canada, announced that his organization would nominate Harper for the prestigious award. Making what he believes is a strong case, Dimant said Harper had maintained “moral clarity” and “outstanding moral leadership” by unequivocally supporting Israel’s recent full-scale military operation in Gaza, code-named Operation Protective Edge.
“Moral clarity has been lost across much of the world, with terror, hatred and antisemitism filling the void,” said Dimant. “Throughout, there has been one leader which has demonstrated international leadership and a clear understanding of the differences between those who would seek to do evil, and their victims.”
Palestinian health officials estimate that more than 2,100 people, most of them civilians, were killed during the 50-day Gaza conflict. That includes 490 children. Israel lost 64 soldiers and six civilians. Speaking on Democracy Now! in July, Henry Siegman, the former executive director of the American Jewish Congress, described the deaths in Gaza as “a slaughter of innocents.” more
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