Aug. 26. 2001

 

The Editor:

The Guardian Weekly

 

Dear Editor:

 

In his arrogant diatribe, Israel Harel states :{ " We will not be moved", Aug. 23}, trivialising the just cause of the Palestinian people and simply re-writnig the history of this conflict. Nowhere is there any mention of an illegal occupation that has been allowed to stand for over 34 years, in defiance of international law and repeated Security Council resolutions. Under this occupation the Palestinians have been subjected to the most blatant oppression, including torture, collective punishments, humiliation, expropriation of their land for the creation of illegal settlements, and demolition of thousands of their homes, all in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

 

In reference to the recent Intifada, Mr. Harel says :" Given the right orders, the Israel Defence forces could solve this problem in days", presumably by conducting the mass murder and massacres, that the Israeli army has practiced repeatedly in the past or supervised under the orders of Mr. Sharon.

 

Mr. Harel is perfectly right when he says :" The international community is helping to prolong the hostilities and the loss of lives on both sides" , by simply refusing , under US pressure, to imlement Security Council resolutions and demand complete Israeli withdrawal from the illegally occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza, and dismantlement of all the settlements, which are illegal.

 

How long must Israel be allowed to remain above international Law?

 

Yours sincerely

 

Ismail Zayid, MD.