Cc: Harper.S@parl.gc.ca ; href="/cgi-common/webmail.cgi?cmd=url&xdata=~2-de4326fc8581e34e3e1b9122eb8389abf44d9ef0db00&url=!2FDIV"> title=Duceppe.G@parl.gc.ca href="javascript:press_email('Duceppe.G@parl.gc.ca')">Duceppe.G@parl.gc.ca ; href="/cgi-common/webmail.cgi?cmd=url&xdata=~2-de4326fc8581e34e3e1b9122eb8389abf44d9ef0db00&url=IV"> title=Casey.B@parl.gc.ca href="javascript:press_email('Casey.B@parl.gc.ca')">Casey.B@parl.gc.ca ; pm@pm.gc.ca ; McDonough.A@parl.gc.ca

It is our understanding that Canadian foreign policy, as related to Middle East, should be balanced and displays no bias to any side, with special reference to the Palestine/Israel conflict. Our government's policies should reflect international legitimacy, as reflected in international conventions like the Fourth Geneva Convention and UN resolutions.

Mr. Schneiderman's record shows, as displayed in article below, a longstanding committment in support of Israeli government and its advocates in Canada as Canada Israel Committe, Canadian Jewish Congress and Canadian Council for Israel and Jewish Advocacy group.

The article "Schneiderman advising Pettigrew on Mideast" from the Canadian
Jewish News (link http://www.cjnews.com/viewarticle.asp?id=4792) provides
the following information"

"Schneiderman is president of Congregation Shaar Hashomayim, and has been
involved in various areas of the Montreal Jewish community. He managed
Thomas Hecht's unsuccessful challenge for the presidency of Canadian Jewish
Congress in the mid-1990s, and was regional director of the Canadian Friends
of Bar-Ilan University."

"A large part of Schneiderman's time since his appointment in September has
been spent in communication with Jewish groups. On the day he was contacted,
he was scheduled to meet with leaders of the Canadian Council for Israel and
Jewish Advocacy, which was created last year.

He'd already met with the Canada-Israel Committee and Israeli Ambassador
Alan Baker, and was planning a second meeting with the ambassador and
Pettigrew in a couple of weeks."

With this background, it is clear, in the eyes of any neutral observer, that this appointment is contrary to any claim by Canada to hold a balanced view on Middle East Affairs or any committment to international law. We call on you to examine this serious concern to many Canadians and re-consider this appointment.