Monday, January 12, 2009

An open letter to Anita Neville, MP Crescentwood

On the news the other day you made a comment from the Stand For Israel rally saying that you were not concerned about loosing constituents with your support for Israel and for its right to defend itself. Well, you’ve lost these long-time Liberal constituents for good. We cannot, in good conscience, support a candidate who promotes the senseless murder of innocent men, women and children for political ends. Whether you support Hamas’ right to defend Gaza from an Israeli occupation army or you support Israel’s right defend against rocket attacks makes little difference to us. Whichever side fired the first shot and broke the precarious ceasefire is open for debate, but what we do know is that Israel is killing Palestinians at a rate of about 100 to 1 and over half are innocent civilians. We don’t want to lecture you on the history of the region and what constitutes right and wrong by standards of international law; we simply want to plead that you join with the tens of thousands of Palestinians, Israelis, Canadians and Winnipeggers that do not support violence in any way shape or form: these voices of reason, peace, security and mutual understanding scream in the wilderness every time Israeli and Palestinian radicals decide to blow each other bits. Please reconsider your stand: support a ceasefire and support the internationally recognized return of Palestine to pre-1967 borders in return for peace and stability for both Israelis and Palestinians. It has to happen eventually, only negotiating now will save a lot more blood and you just may win our votes.

Sincerely,

Paul and Julia Panchyshyn

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