Eggs and shoes were thrown at the motorcade of Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird in Ramallah, as he left a meeting with Riad Malki, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Palestinian Authority on Sunday (January 18).
Minister Baird was not hit as he got into his car, as protesters chanted and held up signs saying Baird was not welcome because of Canada’s perceived pro-Israel stance.
Reacting to the protest later in Jerusalem, after his meeting with Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Baird said he had seen worse when he was a cabinet minister in the Canadian province of Ontario.
About his meeting with the Palestinian Authority’s Malki he said in a statement: “As friends, we have candid and frank exchanges on areas where we differ in opinion. I appreciate the Minister’s views and counsel, and I know we share the same desire for peace and prosperity for the Palestinian people.
“I asked that the Minister strongly reconsider the consequences of moving forward with any action that may be counterproductive to a negotiated solution with the State of Israel.”
More information:
CBC News (text and video) – John Baird shrugs off convoy’s egg pelting in West Bank – here
Huffington Post – Palestinian Protesters Hurl Eggs, Shoes At John Baird’s Convoy – here
BBC News – Palestinians throw eggs at Canada’s John Baird – here
Canada Foreign Affairs press release – Baird Meets with Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister – here
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