CPA sent the following message to Jack Layton questioning him about Canada Israel Committee’s claim of investment in the NDP. Again, as of the posting date of this letter March 1, 2009, we did not receive even an acknowledgment from Mr. Layton.
Dear Mr. Layton:
Here in B.C., the “Jewish Independent” quoted Moshe Ronen, the chair of the Canada Israel Committee (CIC) and the vice-president of the World Jewish Congress as saying that New Democratic party leader Jack Layton has, along with Gil Duceppe, “agreed not to make Israel a wedge issue in Canadian politics”. He also asserted that the CIC have “invested in all of the political parties..” http://www.jewishindependent.ca/archives/Dec0 8/archives08Dec19-01.html
We in the Palestinian support movement invest in principles, truth and the Canadian people and would like to ask you whether Ronen’s statements are true or not? And whether you will speak out when it comes to Israeli violations of human rights and the Fourth Geneva Conventions? We would like to draw your attention to Mr. Ronen’s statement about what kind of peace he envisages for the Palestinians and what kind of humiliation he has in store for the Palestinian people when he says “the Palestinians will be talking to a wall for a long time.” Interestingly, the same paper in an editorial on Dec. 12, 2008, under the title “Coalition cold comfort” described your Party as “the notoriously oppositional NDP”, claiming that “there was something in the coalition plan to disgust everyone.” http://www.jewishindependent.ca/archives/Dec08/archives08Dec12-13.html
We hope you will not be deceived by Ronen and the lobby he represents. As a Palestinian from Christian background, born and raised in Bethlehem, Palestine, I believe, especially at this time of year, that respect of all peoples’ human and national rights worldwide is the only path to peace.
Waiting to hear from you,
Yours Truly Hanna Kawas
Chairperson, Canada Palestine Association, Vancouver www.cpavancouver.org
Co-host, Voice of Palestine www.voiceofpalestine.ca