On Thursday, 13 Jul. Harper commented on Israel’s attack on Lebanon in response to the capture of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah. After at least 55 Lebanese had been killed by the Israeli state, Harper astonishingly told Canadian reporters, “I think Israel’s response under the circumstances has been measured.” He went on to say that […]

On Thursday, 13 Jul. Harper commented on Israel’s attack on Lebanon in response to the capture of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah. After at least 55 Lebanese had been killed by the Israeli state, Harper astonishingly told Canadian reporters, “I think Israel’s response under the circumstances has been measured.” He went on to say that he supported Israel’s actions to “defend itself.” (The Globe and Mail, 14 Jul. 2006)

Harper’s support of Israeli imperialism was even more extreme than that expressed by George Bush and Tony Blair, the Israeli state’s staunchest supporters until now. On Saturday evening from St. Petersburg, the G8 leaders came out with a more “measured” response calling for Israel to cease its attacks on Lebanon – a clear rebuke towards Harper and his cheerleading for the Israeli state’s barbarism.

Harper’s comments seem especially disgusting after a Montréal family of seven, vacationing in a small village near Beirut, was killed on Sunday by an Israeli air strike. But, on Monday, Harper once again leapt to the defence of the Israeli military saying that Israel is solely protecting itself and that any blame should lie squarely with Hezbollah and Hamas. “We recognize Israel’s right to self-determination but call on Israel to exercise restraint and to avoid civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure,” Harper said. (The Globe and Mail, 17 Jul. 2006) In other words, invade Lebanon if you’d like, but try to leave a smaller mess next time!

Aside from the Canadian family, the Canadian media has paid little attention to the hundreds of people that have been slaughtered so far in Lebanon or the implications that the Israeli state’s invasion have. Instead, it has focused on the two kidnapped Israeli soldiers and how Israel’s invasion is simply “punishing” Hezbollah for its misdeed. As well, the media has gone into great details on the Israeli casualties resulting from the conflict, as if Lebanese lives are somehow inferior. We do not support Hezbollah or its actions in any way, but we do recognize the gross hypocrisy that the corporate media is showing in ignoring the real effects on the Lebanese people.

Marxists are always opposed to the oppression of people. There is no justification for the Israeli state’s attacks on Lebanon or Gaza. These attacks (which have turned out to be very planned and coordinated) are part of a larger plan for the Israeli bosses to defend their interests against the rising discontent found amongst the Palestinian, Lebanese, and Israeli workers (see “The Barbarism of the Israeli Ruling Class”). The kidnapping of three Israeli soldiers has given the Israeli state the excuse it needs to attack the workers and poor of the Middle East and to solidify Israeli imperialism.

Canadian workers (and their organizations) must raise their voices and make it clear that we want no complicity in the Israeli state’s war and tell Stephen Harper & Co. to stop defending the atrocities being committed in the interests of Israeli imperialism.

• The barbarism of the Israeli ruling class by Fred Weston (14 Jul. 2006)
• Mexican elections: Protest Stephen Harper’s recognition of Calderon by Fightback (12 Jul. 2006)