----- Original Message -----

From: Ismail Zayid

To: McDonough.A@parl.gc.ca

Cc: Alghabra.O@parl.gc.ca ; min.dfaitmaeci@international.gc.ca ; Regan.G@parl.gc.ca ; savage.m@parl.gc.ca ; pm@pm.gc.ca ; Mackay.P@parl.gc.ca ; Layton.J@parl.gc.ca

Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2007 5:34 PM

Subject: Well said

 

Canada Palestine Association.

P.O.Box 1085

Halifax, NS, B3 J 2X1

 

June 21, 2007

 

The Hon. Ms. Alexa McDonough, MP.

 

Dear Ms. McDonough.

 

We are writing to congratulate you on your accurate and principled statement in the House of Commons criticising the government's boycott and failure to recognise the Palestinian Unity government. This policy by the Canadian government, together with US and Israeli governments' policies was instrumental in bringing about  the econmomic and humanitarian crisis among the Palestinian people. It was orchestrated to bring about a civil war amongst the Palestinian people, so as to justify the continuing  illegal and oppressive Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, that has been allowed to stand for 40 years in defiance of international law and repeated Security Council resolutions and in violation of virtually every article of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

 

Thank you for speaking out about this and the suffering of the Palestinian people, who are calling for peace with justice. We need a courageous stand from our political leaders, in upholding international law and the basic principles of humanity.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Ismail Zayid, MD,

President, Canada Palestine Association.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Statement by Alexa McDonough:

Mr. Speaker, tragically, the Palestinian unity government has collapsed. Never in 40 years had a Palestinian political body brought together the views of so many Palestinians. All major political movements were included.

Instead of seeing the unity government as a unique opportunity to advance the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, the Conservative government shamefully boycotted, undermining the advocates of compromise, compounding political divisions within Gaza and the West Bank and increasing the insecurity plaguing the lives of Palestinians and Israelis.

The only viable government in Palestine is one that represents all Palestinians. Peace cannot be achieved without Hamas at the table. It is a fraud to pretend otherwise.

It is imperative for the Canadian government to provide leadership and push for a unified, multilateral diplomatic front.

The current strife and tragic loss of life in Palestine will only be stemmed when a policy of peace and inclusive dialogue replaces the politics of militarism, boycott and division.