Good for him

"Canada has to support the right of a democratic country to defend itself,'' he told reporters in Halifax on Thursday after speaking to a forum of business leaders on the economy.

"Israel has been attacked from Gaza, not just last year, but for almost 10 years. They evacuated from Gaza so there is no occupation in Gaza.''

..."Hamas is a terrorist organization and Canada can't touch Hamas with a 10-foot pole,'' he said. ``Hamas is to blame for organizing and instigating these rocket attacks and then for sheltering among civilian populations.'' 

Peter Kent, the Conservative minister of state for foreign affairs was equally forceful:

"The position of the government of Canada is that Hamas bears the burden of responsibility for the deepening humanitarian tragedy,'' Kent said.

"Until they commit to a permanent ceasefire _ a truly permanent ceasefire, a durable ceasefire _ and don't use it as a break to re-arm and resume rocketing, the fighting will go on.''

I'm glad that, at least at the leadership level, there is now no daylight between the pro-Israel positions of the Conservatives and Liberals. It's a welcome change from 2006, when Ignatieff called Israel a war criminal. My lingering worry, though, is the grassroots and especially the "netroots" of the Liberals, which remain markedly anti-Israel.

Now all we need to do is bring Taliban Jack back from the brink. I'll close with a photo of Stephane Dion, Jack Layton and Syed Ryan, head of AL-QUPE-Ontario.