When bending the knee became a dominating imperative
There’s a crack (pun intended) about Canada being a really nice apartment above a meth lab, that’s attributed to Robin Williams. While it’s self-explanatory, it’s amusingly on the mark because the fumes are metaphorically affecting some of Canada’s politicians in disturbing ways.
It’s been nearly a week since the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in the case brought before it by South Africa that it was plausible that Israel was committing genocide in the Gaza Strip. Since then, the Western World, led by the USA, has been conducting a relentless smear campaign (with the evident and willing collusion of mainstream media) to downplay the ruling and deflect from the provisional measures ordered by the court.
It is, therefore, astonishing that Canada, ranked as the second-best country in the world in 2023 on numerous metrics such as human rights, racial equality, transparency, gender equity and social justice, has chosen to join the pro-genocide chorus. The official statement on behalf of the Canadian government by Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly reads in part like a cold-blooded death warrant issued to the Palestinians under siege in Gaza:
Canada supports the ICJ’s critical role in the peaceful settlement of disputes and its work in upholding the international rules-based order.
Our support for the ICJ does not mean that we accept the premise of the case brought by South Africa. It is for the ICJ to make a final decision on the case, which it has not done today. We continue to follow the case very closely.
Canada will continue to support Israel’s right to exist and defend itself, in accordance with international law. Nothing can justify Hamas’ brutal attacks on October 7, including the appalling loss of life, and the heinous acts of violence perpetrated in those attacks, including sexual violence.
While Joly’s statement repeated the Western mantra of supporting Israel and condemning (rightfully) the October 7th Hamas attacks, it makes no mention whatsoever of the massacre being committed in Gaza of more than 25,000 civilians, most of whom are women and children, and the daily live-streamed war crimes of the Israeli Defence Force (IDF). The Canadian government apparently has not taken notice of the unfolding genocide, or it simply prefers to look the other way.
The Minister naturally needed to add the usual platitudes about their concern for the humanitarian crisis but had to include the Israeli fabrication about “human shields” that justified the carnage. The statement goes on to read:
Canada remains deeply concerned about the scale of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the ongoing and serious impacts on Palestinian civilians. Canada continues to support urgent international efforts towards a sustainable ceasefire. This cannot be one-sided. Hamas must release all hostages, stop using Palestinian civilians as human shields, and lay down its arms.
Parties to any conflict must protect civilians and respect international law. They are obligated to allow and facilitate the rapid and unimpeded access of essential humanitarian relief for civilians. Humanitarian access must urgently be increased and sustained in Gaza.
As to respecting international law, Minister Mélanie Joly confirms what the Global South has suspected for a long time – it applies only to countries that are resisting the racist colonialism of the West and their proxies. The atrocities by Israel, as documented by Al Jazeera below according to this imperialist Western World Order, are supposedly acceptable.
Mass grave discovered in northern Gaza ‘clearly a war crime
The video exposes just one of many incidences of war crimes in the week since the ICJ ruling, in a flagrant and ostentatious violation of the preliminary measures. Before this, there were literally thousands more cases in both Gaza and the West Bank that will make a compelling case for genocide when the case resumes to rule on the merits. It’s almost as if Israel is hell-bent on turning the plausible ruling of genocide by the ICJ into an absolute certainty.
Then, of Canada?
If Canada beyond all reason insists on being a lapdog country but still wants to retain or improve its number two ranking, it must choose a better master.
lenny unencumbered 