Open Letter to Stephen Harper on Israel's attacks against Gaza and Lebanon

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Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper
Prime Minister of Canada
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

Dear Prime Minister Harper:

In response to the capture of an Israeli soldier, who was part of a military force launching attacks against Palestinian civilians and imposing collective punishment of the population of Gaza, Israel has stepped up its illegal siege of more than 1.4 million people. Israel has also been illegally holding over 9, 000 Palestinian prisoners many who have been imprisoned without charge. These prisoners include women and children. The Palestinians have offered to exchange the Israeli soldier they captured if Israel releases women and children prisoners being held by Israel.

Roman Catholic Bishop Sherlock speaking at rally against the Israeli attack on Lebanon, London, Ontario, July 22, 2006. Photo by Jing Jing Ding.

Israel has been shelling Gaza, has imposed a blockade on the population, denying medical supplies, causing food shortages and starvation. Israel is imposing collective punishment on the civilian population of Gaza. This is a war crime which has been condemned by the Swiss Government, the custodian of the Geneva Conventions. Israel also has been expanding illegal Jewish settlements in the Occupied West Bank.

Israel's actions in Gaza have been condemned by countries around the world. Many prominent individuals including London, England's Mayor, Ken Livingstone, joined by 14 British Members of Parliament and a number of British Jewish academics, have also condemned these Israeli attacks against the Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Many Israelis are opposed to the violent acts of their government.

These Israeli acts of an aggression amount to war crimes and come on the heel of the war crimes already being committed by Israel in Gaza, where the 1.4 million Palestinians are presently being starved, bombed and terrorized. Over the past two weeks at least 74 Palestinians, many of them children, have been killed in Gaza by Israeli forces. UN Secretary General, Kofi Anan, has strongly condemned Israel's actions. Canada should do the same.

	A protest held in London, Ontario against the Israeli attack on Lebanon. Courtesy of Ed Corrigan.

The crisis is escalating. Israel war planes violated Syrian airspace and buzzed its capital Damascus. This violation of another country's sovereignty is very provocative and can be seen as an act of war. Israel is also still illegally occupying territory belonging to Syria, Jordan, Palestine and Lebanon. Israel has been illegally holding Lebanese prisoners for many years. Israel has also been assassinating political leaders in Lebanon as shown in an Israeli spy ring which was recently uncovered in Lebanon.

In response to these Israeli provocations Hezbollah launched an operation that killed two Israelis soldiers and captured two others. Several more Israeli soldiers were killed when their tank hit a mine in Lebanon. Now Israel is seeking to impose collective punishment on innocent Lebanese civilians in response to this independent Hezbollah operation.

Israel is heavily shelling Lebanese towns from land, sea and air. In past few days the Israeli assault has killed hundreds of civilians in Lebanon, many of whom were children. Over 500,000 have been made refugees. Over 40,000 Canadians have been trapped in the carnage and at least 8 Canadians killed. The Israeli attacks have hit 10 bridges, a television station, and Beirut International Airport, the only international airport in the country. Israel has massed six thousand reservists on the Lebanese border and has now invaded Lebanon. The Canadian government should issue a warning to Israel and demand that Israel halt its military assault against Lebanon and to stop its invasion.

It is clear from recent events that as long as the illegal occupation of Arab lands in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine continues, the violence in the Middle East will persist. Israel must stop its continued aggression and Canada must speak loudly against it. The human rights of the Palestinians and Lebanese must be respected.

The Canadian government's silence on these acts of aggression is encouraging Israel to continue committing war crimes against innocent Lebanese and Palestinian civilians. As such, Canada is morally responsible for the bombing and invasion of Gaza and Lebanon, and for its complicity in Israel's plan to isolate and starve the Palestinians and to destroy the democratically-elected Palestinian government.

The Canadian government should demand the release of the democratically elected members of the Palestinian Parliament which are being held hostage by Israel. The blockade of the Palestinian population should be lifted at once and humanitarian aid sent to Gaza. The attacks against Lebanon should cease immediately. None of these Israeli actions advance the cause of peace. Let us work for justice in the Middle East and dialogue and not encourage or aid and abet Israel's acts of aggression.

Edward C. Corrigan, B.A., M.A., LL.B.
Barrister & Solicitor
Certified as a Specialist by the Law Society of Upper Canada
Citizenship and Immigration Law and Immigration/Refugee Protection Law
LONDON, ONTARIO