Don't Hold Your Breath...

National Post editorial board: NDP should give Gaza boat supporters the boot


The folks organizing the “Canadian Boat to Gaza” style themselves as humanitarians. In fact, they are radical anti-Israeli activists who have co-opted the language of humanitarianism to further their single-minded campaign against the Jewish state. We know this because these same folks have no interest in sending a “Boat to Syria,” where more than 1,000 protesters have been slaughtered in recent weeks. Nor are they interested in sending boats to Libya or Yemen. Just Israel, where the humanitarian toll has been much lighter. Thankfully, most mainstream Canadian politicians — including, apparently, NDP leader, Jack Layton — recognize such hateful anti-Israel attitudes for what they are.

The Boat to Gaza activists are participating in a boat convoy that will challenge Israel’s blockade of the Hamas-run Gaza Strip. Their stated goal is to bring humanitarian aid and “carry exports out of Gaza.” Donors already can send aid to Gaza through both Israel and Egypt, of course. But such transfers are subject to inspections meant to ensure that Hamas does not import armaments and explosives for slaughtering Jews. By seeking to undermine such security measures with their convoy, the Boat to Gaza activists are in effect allying themselves with Hamas terrorists. And no one should be surprised if the Israeli military deals with them in that spirit, even if it means risking a repeat of the lethal episode that unfolded under similar circumstances last year. Read