News Release

For Immediate Release 

Ottawa, July 13, 2006 – The National Council on Canada-Arab Relations (NCCAR) is calling on Prime Minister Stephen Harper to utilise all of Canada's diplomatic ties to demand an immediate cessation of Israeli attacks against Lebanon.

“Yesterday's statement from Foreign Minister Peter MacKay should have called on both Hezbollah and Israel to stop their attacks rather than to express support for one against the other,” said NCCAR Executive Director Mazen Chouaib. “Canada's relationship with Israel is long-standing and Canada should leverage this solid relationship and call on that country to halt its disproportionate response that is costing the lives of innocent civilians.”

Israel's destruction of infrastructure, the indiscriminate bombing of civilians, and the blockade currently imposed on Lebanon will have devastating implications for the civilian population. Lebanon is a democratic state which is trying to strengthen its institutions and build a national consensus, which Israeli military action threatens.

The Lebanese-Canadian community of Canada—made up of more than 250,000 strong in Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Mississauga, London, Windsor, Edmonton, and Calgary—watches in shock as Israel destroys the villages and cities where family and friends live.

“Canada should be concerned about the lives of the more than 40,000 Canadians living in Lebanon, tourists who have been visiting the country, and other civilians who are immediately affected by the attacks,” added Mr. Chouaib.

NCCAR calls on Prime Minister Harper to contact his counterparts in Lebanon and Israel to urge restraint and condemn the use of force against civilians. The implications of the widening conflict engulfing Lebanon, Syria, Israel and the Palestinians will result in far-reaching consequences that will prevent any chances of peace in the region. 

-End-