Sent: Friday, January 27, 2006 11:41 PM

Subject: Selective criticism

Jan. 27,2006

The Editor,

The Halifax Herald.

Dear Editor:

In your editorial:{"Hamas's test" Jan.27}, you lambaste Hamas as a terrorist organisation and question their democratic status. We have been told that the US and its allies are in the process of creating democracy in the Middle East. The Palestinian people, under an oppressive occupation, have freely expressed their choice, but we are now told that this is not good enough. The violence and terrorism practiced by Hamas is a direct result of the brutal illegal occupation that the Palestinian people have been subjected to for over 38 years. Yet you spare nor a single word for the continuing violence and state terrorism practiced by Israel. Israeli practices during this occupation have included extra-judicial assassination, murder of thousands of innocent men, women and children, by bombing using F16's and Apaches, torture, demolition of thousands of homes, uprooting hundreds of thousands of olive and orchard trees, collective punishments, daily humiliation at check points, denial of health care and expropriation of property for the creation of illegal colonies[settlements]. All these acts are in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, and are defined by international law, as war crimes. These acts have been condemned as war crimes and state terrorism by all international human rights bodies, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Israeli human rights groups, including B'Tselem.

Elsewhere, in your pages, you include the statement made by Mr. Harper who states that:" For a nation to be truly democratic, that nation must renounce terrorism." Is Israel also subject to this rule? Israel from its inception has created terrorism in the Middle East and continues to practice state terrorism, besides all its acts of aggression against its neighbours and the repeated massacres committed. Its leaders and prime ministers, including Menachem Begin, Yitzhak Shamir, Ehud Barak, Netanyahu and Sharon have indulged repeatedly in acts of terrorism and war crimes, but these facts pass unnoticed by our political leaders and media.

It is incumbent upon our leaders and media to call on Israel to terminate completely its illegal occupation of Palestinian territory, that has been allowed to stand for over 38 years in defiance of international law and repeated Security Council resolutions. Only thus will peace be secure and assured for Israelis and Palestinians in this tortured land.

Sincerely,

Ismail Zayid, MD.