From: Ismail Zayid

To: The Halifax Herald

Cc: Bob Howse

Sent: Saturday, January 20, 2001 11:06 AM

Subject: How about International Law?

The Editor
The Halifax Herald

Jan. 20, 2001

Dear Editor:

There you go again. More Zionist propaganda { T.Friedman’s "Arafat has not lifted a finger for peace" Jan. 20}, with total disregard of facts.

Arafat and the Palestinians have gone to Madrid 1991, Oslo 1993, Wye River 1998, Camp David, 2000, and a variety of intervening conferences in Cairo and elsewhere with the simple peace proposal of implementation of UN and Security Council resolutions. Is Mr. Friedman aware that Israel has maintained an illegal occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza for over 33 years, in defiance of international law and Security Council resolutions? His heroes, Rabin and Barak, talked about peace but continued, as he states, to expropriate more Palestinian land and create more illegal Jewish settlements and demolish thousands of Palestinian homes, in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

Simply, the Palestinians are asking for Israeli full compliance with international law and UN resolutions and complete withdrawal from illegally occupied territory, so they can establish their truly independent state on a mere 22% of historic Palestine, so that they can come to live in peace with their Israeli neighbours. Will Friedman and Israeli leaders ever come to accept this or must Israel remain above international law?

Yours sincerely

Ismail Zayid, MD.