Subject:Israeli brutality in the Occupied Territories

Canada Palestine Association
P.O.Box,1085
Halifax, NS.

The Hon. Mr. Lloyd Axworthy M.P.

Minister of Foreign Affairs,

Ottawa.

 

October, 4, 2000

Dear Mr. Axworthy:

We find your statement published today stating" We urge Israeli and Palestinian authorities to exercise restraint over their respective security forces and hostile protesters", deeply disappointing. It is beyond comprehension that you would equate the brutal murder of children by Israeli forces using live ammunition, Apachi helicopters with gunships and tanks using rockets and missiles with predomonently children, women and men using slings and stones, over 60 of whom have been murdered and over 2000 wounded. These Palestinians were protesting the deliberate provocation by that war criminal, Ariel Sharon, violating the sanctity of their sacred mosque and accompanied by over a thousand Israeli troops and bodyguards.

The Palestinians of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem have been subjected to an illegal and brutal Israeli occupation for 33 years, in defiance of Security Council resolutions and in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Is it not time that our government, along with other governments which claim to uphold international law and the U.N. Charter, should demand immediate and unconditional withdrawal of this illegal occupation, in compliance with international law? This should not be a negotiable issue.

We did not accept any negotiation with Iraq when it illegally occupied Kuwait, and we proceeded to demolish this country and impose the genocidal sanctions against its people for the last 10 years.

It is time that we practice what we preach and cease the practice of double standards, in compliance with U.S. biased views.

Yours sincerely

Ismail Zayid, MD.

President, Canada Palestine Association.