13 March 2000

The Editor: The Globe & Mail, Toronto

Subject: Letter to Editor; The Pope’s Apology.

Dear Editor:

Re: "Pope issues historic apology for sins of church" {March, 13}.

It is admirable of the Pope to admit guilt and seek forgiveness for the historic sins of Roman Catholics against Muslims, Jews and others. He stated: " we are asking pardon...for the use of violence that some have committed.. and hostility assumed toward followers of other religions".

Israel’s Chief Rabbi, Meir Lau,said he expects more and is " deeply frustrated by the Pope’s failure to mention the Holocaust by name" and is asking the Pope to complete the asking of forgiveness next week in Jerusalem.

With this in mind, it behoves the Chief Rabbi,in turn, to show similar genorosity of spirit, admitting guilt and seeking forgiveness for the repeated massacres, war crimes and the ethnic cleansing that his fellow co-religionists committed against the Muslims and Christians in Palestine, over the last fifty years and more.

Yours sincerely

Ismail Zayid,M.D.