Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2001 12:11 PM

Subject: Israel’s Fans.

The Editor
Maclean’s

11 Jan. 2001

Dear Editor:

Diane Francis in {"Liberal Bias against Israel" Jan. 15} states that she is " An ardent supporter and fan of Israel". Had it occurred to her that it would be more appropriate for her , and her colleague Barabara Amiel, to be supporters and fans of international law and human rights and laws? Is she aware that Israeli occupation, since 1967, of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza, is illegal and in defiance of Security Council resolutions? Is she aware that this oppressive occupation, including the expropriation of Palestinian land to create illegal Jewish settlements, the demolition of thousands of Palestinian homes and the imprisonment of Palestinians, without due legal process, and their torture, are illegal and in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention?

Alas, the bias is clearly on her part and not on the part of world governments which unanimously condemned Israel’s excessive force against Palestinians, and the murder of hundreds, mostly children and youth throwing stones at the illegal occupying force and illegal settlers on their land.

Yours sincerely

Ismail Zayid, MD.