Dear Prime Minister,
Over 50 Palestinian protesters, including at least four children, have been killed by the Israeli military already today in Gaza; over 1,200 have been wounded. There are reports that the Israelis have used tanks to fire upon protestors. Meanwhile, there have been no reports of any Israelis being harmed.
I write to you as the Chair of the United Network for Justice and Peace in Palestine and Israel, a network of members and friends of the United Church of Canada (UNJPPI), to plead with you to contact Prime Minister Netanyahu and demand that Israel cease and desist from their ongoing gross violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention in responding to protests in Gaza.
UNJPPI condemns any and all violence. We fear that the excessive use of force by Israel will surely feed the level of anger and mistrust toward Israelis by Palestinians. Israel’s disproportion use of force is unjustified and in violation of international law. This aggressive use of force serves as yet another massive blow to any hope for peace with justice for Palestinians and Israelis alike.
We urge you to speak with members of your caucus who recently visited Palestine and who witnessed firsthand the reality of the illegal occupation of Palestine; from 12 year old children who are subjected to military tribunals, to inhumane treatment of Palestinians at checkpoints, to the theft of Palestinian natural resources including and especially water, to separate roads and schools that have lead people like Nobel prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu to declare that the situation for Palestinians is worse than it was for blacks in South Africa under apartheid.
Canadians are proud of our historic role as defenders of peace and human rights globally. Your government by not taking a public stand serves as tactic approval to Israel’s excessive and deadly use of force. Therefore, we urge you to contact the Prime Minister of Israel to cease and desist. Also, that you register Canada’s strong condemnation of the excessive use of force against children, women and men who were exercising their rights as protected under international law.
Peace, Paix, Salaam, Shalom,
Rev. Steve Berube
Chair: United Network for Justice and Peace in Palestine and Israel