Cc: pm@pm.gc.ca ; M.Gille Duceppe ; harper.s@parl.gc.ca ; href="/cgi-common/webmail.cgi?cmd=url&xdata=~2-de4326fc8581e34e3e1b9122eb8389abf44d9ef0db00&url=M.Gille" title=jack@fed.ndp.ca href="javascript:press_email('jack@fed.ndp.ca')">Mr. Jack Layton ; href="/cgi-common/webmail.cgi?cmd=url&xdata=~2-de4326fc8581e34e3e1b9122eb8389abf44d9ef0db00&url=!3B" title=alexa@hfx.eastlink.ca href="javascript:press_email('alexa@hfx.eastlink.ca')">Alexa McDonough

We read with astonishment the reported statement of Ambassador Allan Rock, at the United Nations, on Nov.30,2004, "delivering a scathing denunciation of the General Assembly's resolutions isolating and attacking Israel", as reported in The Globe & Mail, Dec. 1.

Ambassador Rock affirms Canada's " support for Israel, especially its right to live in peace with its neighbours within secure boundaries...... and Canada recognizes Israel right to assure its own security." Is Ambassador Rock aware that Israel, throughout its history, has been conducting wars of aggression against its neighbours including wars in 1956,1967,1978 and 1982, against Egypt,Jordan, Syria and Lebanon? Is ambassador Rock aware that Israel stands today in illegal occupation of Palestinian territory, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, and Syrian territory, the Golan Heights, for 37 years, in defiance of international law and repeated Security Council resolutions? During this illegal oppressive occupation, Israel has been committing atrocities, including detention of thousands without charge or trial, torture, extra-judicial assassination, denial of health care, daily humiliation, demolition of thousands of homes, including entire villages, and expropriation of property for the creation of illegal Jewish colonies [settlements], and other forms of collective punishment. All these actions are in violation of virtually every article of the Fourth Geneva Convention, actions that are defined by international law as war crimes.

The killing of innocent Israeli civilians, in suicide bombing, by desperate individuals under oppressive occupation, is abhorent, as is the almost daily killing of Palestinians by the missile attacks and bombing by Israeli F16's and Apaches, destroying homes and creating homelessness for thousands. If Israel truly cares for the security of its citizens, all it has to do is to comply with international law and terminate completely its illegal occupation.

It was our understanding that Canada stands for international legitimacy and upholding the UN Charter. If this position still stands, Canada's UN ambassador and government should be calling on the UN to enforce its numerous resolutions calling on Israel to terminate its illegal occupation of Palestinian and Syrian territory and comply with international law and the Fourth Geneva Convention. It is noteworthy to remind our government that in accordacnce with Article One of the Fourth Geneva Convention and as a High Contracting Party to the convention, Canada should take action to see that Israel is made to comply with the Convention.