Bloc Québécois leader says he doesn’t support Hezbollah

After facing criticism from the public and the media for participating in a Montreal rally on the Middle East conflict earlier this month, Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe clarified his participation in the rally on the Bloc's website last week."My participation in this peace rally was widely commented on by the media and various civil society groups," he said, adding that they made "regrettable" comments such as him being a Hezbollah supporter because some at the rally had Hezbollah flags."Throughout this crisis, my only interest has been the civilian victims in the conflict, whether they are Israeli of Lebanese. It was in this capacity that I participated in the demonstration which united Quebecers of all origins and religions."Mr. Duceppe (Laurier Sainte-Marie, Que.) said the demonstration was supposed to be a non-partisan rally for peace and that he could not be responsible for other people's actions of beliefs. "Freedom of expression remains a democratic right and we must be able to continue to exert it," he said on the website. "This crisis makes me wish that Israel and Hezbollah would put a ceasefire to the bombings. This is what I have said and nothing else should lead Quebecers to believe that I support Hezbollah. They should be disarmed."Parti Québécois leader Andre Boisclair and Liberal MP Denis Coderre (Bourassa, Que.) also participated in the rally.Israeli Ambassador Alan Baker criticized Mr. Duceppe, Mr. Boisclair and Mr. Coderre for joining in the "anti-Jewish" demonstration."We're seeing the leaders of opposition parties marching in Montreal under Hezbollah flags-Hezbollah, which a terrorist organization that's been outlawed by Canadian law," Mr. Baker said at a press conference on Parliament Hill. "Any opposition party that expresses surprise at the fact that Canada, a democratic country, is supporting the right of another democratic country to defend itself really doesn't understand where they're coming from." -by Bea VongdouangchanhAfter facing criticism from the public and the media for participating in a Montreal rally on the Middle East conflict earlier this month, Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe clarified his participation in the rally on the Bloc's website last week."My participation in this peace rally was widely commented on by the media and various civil society groups," he said, adding that they made "regrettable" comments such as him being a Hezbollah supporter because some at the rally had Hezbollah flags."Throughout this crisis, my only interest has been the civilian victims in the conflict, whether they are Israeli of Lebanese. It was in this capacity that I participated in the demonstration which united Quebecers of all origins and religions."Mr. Duceppe (Laurier Sainte-Marie, Que.) said the demonstration was supposed to be a non-partisan rally for peace and that he could not be responsible for other people's actions of beliefs. "Freedom of expression remains a democratic right and we must be able to continue to exert it," he said on the website. "This crisis makes me wish that Israel and Hezbollah would put a ceasefire to the bombings. This is what I have said and nothing else should lead Quebecers to believe that I support Hezbollah. They should be disarmed."Parti Québécois leader Andre Boisclair and Liberal MP Denis Coderre (Bourassa, Que.) also participated in the rally.Israeli Ambassador Alan Baker criticized Mr. Duceppe, Mr. Boisclair and Mr. Coderre for joining in the "anti-Jewish" demonstration."We're seeing the leaders of opposition parties marching in Montreal under Hezbollah flags-Hezbollah, which a terrorist organization that's been outlawed by Canadian law," Mr. Baker said at a press conference on Parliament Hill. "Any opposition party that expresses surprise at the fact that Canada, a democratic country, is supporting the right of another democratic country to defend itself really doesn't understand where they're coming from." -by Bea Vongdouangchanh

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Bloc Québécois leader says he doesn’t support Hezbollah

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