Sent: Wednesday, May 01, 2002 3:23 PM
Subject: Where does Canada stand?
Canada Palestine Association
P.O.Box, 1085
Halifax, NS. B3J 2X1
May 1,2002
The Hon. Mr. Bill Graham MP,
Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Dear Mr. Graham:
Israeli defiance of Security Council resolutions
and rejection of the UN fact-finding commission, to look into Israeli wanton
attacks in Jenin and many cities and towns in the occupied territories, makes
a mockery of UN credibility. The crimes, that the UN
commission proposed to examine, include reports, by UN special envoy, Amnesty
International, International Committe of Red Cross [ICRC] and many neutral
observers, of indiscriminate murder, destruction, denial of access to medical
care and deprivation of all basic elements of survival, in violation of
all articles of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Such violations
constitute war crimes. These crimes must not be allowed to be covered up,
giving a licence for Sharon to continue his murder and destruction in the
occupied territories.
The Israeli rejection of the UN fact -finding
commission is clearly condoned by the US. This contrasts with the US and UK
reported threats of war against Iraq for a similar act for denying the
admission of UN inspection team, based on a similar Security Council
resolution. Accordingly, are we to understand that the US, and its allies,
propose now to wage war or even economic sanctions against Israel, for its
rejection of the UN commission? Alas, this recent Security Council resolution
is only one amongst scores of UN and Security Council resolutions that Israel
has continued to defy for decades. How long must Israel be allowed to
remain above international law and this practice of double standards continue?
We call on our government, as one of the High
Contracting parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to condemn this
violation of international law and act to bring an end to the crimes against
humanity that are being committed by Israel in the illegally occupied
territories. The complete termination of this illegal occupation is the only
way to bring peace to the Middle East and security
for Palestinians and Israelis.
Yours Sincerely,
Ismail Zayid,M.D.
President, Canada Palestine Association.