----- Original Message -----
From: Ismail Zayid
To: Mr. Bill Graham
Sent: Sunday, January 05, 2003 11:42 PM
Subject: " Selective condemnation of terrorist acts"

Canada Palestine Association
P.O.Box 1085
Halifax, N.S., B3J 2X1
 
Jan. 5,2003
 
The Hon. Mr. Bill Graham,MP.
Minister of Foreign Affairs.
 
Dear Mr. Graham:
 
We are impressed by your condemnation,today, of the suicide bombing attack in Tel Aviv, and the killing of innocent civilians. However, we are puzzled by your silence related to the continuing Israeli killing of innocent Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Territories. During last month alone 40 Palestinians, including 12 children were killed by indiscriminate attacks on innocent Palestinian civilians, including women and children. Between Christmas day and the new year day alone, 15 Palestinians, including 7 children were killed by Israeli troops. That is not to mention the demolition of scores of Palestinian homes and the collective punishments that conyinue in the Occupied Territories, in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, acts that are tantamount to war crimes, by international law.
 
All these acts of state terrorism and war crimes continue and we hear nothing but a deafening silence from our government. It is time that our government abandons this selective concern for the killing of innocent civilians, for the Palestinians are humans too. The fundamental issue here is the need for a concerted demand to terminate completely this illegal Israeli occupation, that has been allowed to stand,for 35 years, in defiance of international law and repeated Security Council resolutions.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Ismail Zayid, MD.
President, Canada Palestine Association.