Palestinian protesters took the opportunity to show their true colors and enmity towards Canada by pelting Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird and his motorcade with eggs and shoes on Sunday in Ramallah.
Protesters took to the streets in Ramallah chanting slogans such as “You are not welcome here Baird”, holding posters comparing Baird to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and finally throwing eggs and shoes at Baird. The foreign minister was not directly hit, but his motorcade was.
Baird downplayed the incident to Canadian press, while peaking later that day from Jerusalem. “Listen, I was in Mike Harris’s cabinet for four years. I’ve had a lot worse,” he said, referring to the man who was Ontario’s premier from 1995 until 2002 and was not always the most popular individual primarily due to his ‘across-the-board’ economic reform policies.
The Canadian foreign minister is an outspoken supporter of Israel, echoing sentiments of the Canadian government under Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Harper was given the prestigious “Key to Knesset” almost a year to the day of the recent incident. He is so far the only foreign dignitary in Israel’s history to receive this honor. Harper received the key as a sign of thanks for his continued support and friendship of Israel. At the time Harper promised that “through fire or water, Canada will stand with Israel.”
Canada has been a staunch supporter of Israel. At the United Nations, Canada voted against the successful bid by the Palestinians to become a non-member state and likewise opposed their recent move to become a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Foreign Minister Baird was in Ramallah during a five day visit to the region in order to meet with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki. The trip came only a day after the ICC announced that it was opening a preliminary investigation into alleged “Israeli war crimes.”
Israel, like the United States, is not a member of the ICC. However, Canada is. Canada also happens to fund a large portion of the ICC and is one of the founding members of the body.
Baird characterized talks with Malaki as “cordial and constructive.” He said both were able to talk candidly about topics in which the two differ in opinion. Baird said that he had asked Malki to “strongly reconsider the consequences of moving forward with any action that may be counterproductive to a negotiated solution with Israel”.
“A desire for a future of peace, prosperity, stability and security for both Palestinians and Israelis must drive both parties toward direct negotiations. Today, we reaffirmed our will to work together on these matters at this crucial time,” Baird said.
Later in the day, after escaping a hailstorm of eggs and shoes that were thrown at him upon leaving the Palestinian Foreign Ministry building, Baird met with Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
Liberman once again expressed Israel’s thanks to Canada, who has continually and unwaveringly supported Israel in the international sphere, as well as in bilateral trade agreements. Speaking on the recent ICC probe, Baird went so far as to call the ICC’s decision to open the investigation deeply regrettable.
