[EMAIL PROTECTED] , Katherine Nastovski, Chair, CUPE Ontario
International Solidarity Committee [EMAIL PROTECTED] , CUPE Ontario
Executive Members [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] , Adam Hanieh [EMAIL PROTECTED] , Rafeef
Ziadeh [EMAIL PROTECTED] , [EMAIL PROTECTED] , "Niagara Palestinian
Association local" [EMAIL PROTECTED], "Niagara Palestinian
Association newslist" [EMAIL PROTECTED], "Niagara
Coalition for Peace" [EMAIL PROTECTED]
May 30, 2006
Dear Mr. Ryan, President Canadian Union of Public Employees,
On behalf of the Niagara Palestinian Association, its members and
friends, I thank CUPE for its principled and courageous stand for
Palestinian human rights and against the apartheid practices of the
state of Israel.
CUPE's amazing and historic Resolution 50 passed overwhelmingly at
the CUPE convention of May 24-27 will have a great impact in
educating Canadians about the on-going suffering and injustices
against Palestinians both within apartheid Israel and in the Israeli
occupied Palestinian territories of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and
East Jerusalem.
CUPE's education campaign about the apartheid nature of the Israeli
state and the political and economic support of Canada for these
practices; CUPE's participation in the international campaign of
boycott, divestment and sanctions; and CUPE's call for the
dismantling of the illegal apartheid wall are practical and very
positive steps forward towards peace with justice. CUPE's solidarity
is uplifting and appreciated beyond words.
Of course, the backlash has already begun. A Canadian Jewish Congress
News Release complains that CUPE's resolution comes at a time when
Israel has made important steps such as withdrawing from the Gaza
Strip. This is factually incorrect. Among other issues, Israel has
not given the Gaza Strip back to the Palestinians as portrayed in
most media. The Israeli military temporarily disengaged from the Gaza
Strip but continues to move into Gaza at any time it wishes, to
continue military assaults and to control the area. 8,000 illegal
Jewish settlers were removed from Gaza, but simultaneously Israel
moved 14,000 illegal Jewish settlers into the West Bank.
In fact the widely proposed two-state solution to the
Palestine/Israel conflict is now impossible. 78% of Palestine was
taken to create the state of Israel. Another 12% has been taken to
build the apartheid wall. Only 10% of historic Palestine remains in
the hands of the indigenous Palestinians, and this 10% is so cut up
by Israeli military roads, illegal Jewish settlements, check-points
and the wall that an independent soveriegn Palestinian state is
physically impossible. Instead the proud Palestinians are imprisoned
on small parcels of land reminicient of Canadian native reservations
and South African bantustans. And within the state of Israel,
Palestinians are officially and systematically discriminated against
as second and third class citizens.
Please stand firm in your conscientious support of freedom, human
security and self-determination for Palestinians.
Our sincere thanks to Katherine Nastovski, Chair of CUPE's
International Solidarity Committee; CUPE members Adam Hanieh, Ali
Mallah, Chantal, Sara, Jane, Peter, Iliam; Rafeef Ziadah; all who
contributed to informing the 900 delegates at the CUPE convention of
the horrific practices of the Israeli state and of the need to
support the implementation of International Law, particularly UN
Resolution 194 - Palestinian right of return; to all the CUPE
delegates and to all your members.
If the Niagara Palestinian Association can be of assistance in any
way or if you would like to discuss any of these issues, please do
not hesitate to contact us at 905-984-6515 or [EMAIL PROTECTED] .
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Susan Burhan
Burhan Azzeh and Susan Howard-Azzeh
Niagara Palestinian Association
Suite 112, 111 Fourth Ave, Ridley Square
St Catharines, Ontario
L2S 3P5
Canada's History With Palestine:
http://www.jewsforajustpeace.com/pages/azzeh_01.html
NIAGARA PALESTINIAN ASSOCIATION - Representing the concerns of
Palestinians & friends of Palestinians in the greater Niagara region.
905-984-6515 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/niag_pal_news/
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
"Anti-Semitism" lawsuit - Please donate:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/niag_pal_news/message/2394
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{Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.} (Holy Quran-16:125)
{And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims."} (Holy Quran-41:33)
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "By Allah, if Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of camels." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said, "Whoever calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all." [Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa'ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah]
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