The Editor

The Globe & Mail

 

June 15, 2001

 

Dear Editor:

 

Despite Norman Spector's prevarication and diatribe {"Mideast? Mum's the word" June 15}, the historic facts, about the Arab-Israeli conflict are clear and simple. Firstly, the Palestinian people were uprooted from their homeland, in 1948, through a systematic process of ethnic cleansing by Israeli leaders. They have a fundamental right to return to their homes, in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and repeatedly-reaffirmed UN resolutions. Fifty three years later, Israel still refuses to comply with international law. Secondly, Israel continues, since 1967, its illegal occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza, and its persistent violation of Palestinians' human rights, in defiance of the Fourth Geneva Convention and repeated Security Council resolutions. Thirdly, international law entitles all peoples under foreign occupation, including even the Palestinian people, the right to resist foreign occupation.

 

These are the facts that Canadian politicians and all Canadians must know and uphold, as Canada claims to uphold the UN Charter and international legitimacy.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Ismail Zayid, MD.