From: Ismail Zayid [mailto:izayid@eastlink

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----- Original Message -----

From: Ismail Zayid

To: Halifax Herald

Cc: Bev Dauphinee

Sent: Friday, January 25, 2008 2:35 PM

Subject: Distortion of facts.

Jan. 25, 2008

The Editor,

The Chronicle Herald.

Dear Editor:

Your editorial, {" The Gaza Conundrum" Jan. 25}, is biased and displays an extraordinary distortion of facts. You explain away the Israeli horror and devastatation imposed on the 1.5 millions in Gaza as as a response to the Israeli "frustration by daily rocket fire from Gaza". You overlook the fact that Gaza has been under an oppressive illegal Israeli occupation for over 40 years, despite the so-called 'Disengagement' charade orchestrated by Israel two years ago. The Gaza Strip is a prison under a total siege with all borders, sea frontier and air space under Israeli control, with no free access to the outside world. Before the onset of the ineffective rockets coming from Gaza, Israel has maintained its almost daily bombing and so-called 'incursions' into Gaza, demolishing homes and killing people. Over 40 men, women and children were killed, in Gaza, by Israel in the first two weeks of this month. On top of this, Israel continues its extra-judicial assassinations, denial of health care and all amenities of life. All these actions are in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, and are defined, by international law, as war crimes, and have been condemned by all international human rights groups, including Amnesty International, and the Israeli human rights group, B'Tselem.

You describe, repeatedly, Hamas as a terrorist organisation. At least, Hamas has been freely elected by the Palestinian people, and has repeatedly offered and maintained for months and years truce with Israel, but with total lack of response from Israel. As to terrorism, it is Israel that has engineered terrorism in the Middle East and continues to practice state terrorism and torture, unabated. The catalogue of Israeli history of terrorism against Arabs, British and Jews is lengthy but well documented.

Finally, the killing of innocent civilians, be they Palestinians or Israelis, is a crime and must be condemned by all. Peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians will be assured only when Israel complies with international law and terminate completely its illegal occupation of all Palestinian territories.

Yours sincerely,

Ismail Zayid, MD