OXFAM loses supporter

Editor: A recent full-page ad in the Georgia Straight newspaper of June 27-July 4, advised where Canada should stand with regard to "Palestine" and Israel. One of the signatories is Meyer Brownstone (OXFAM-Canada, chair emeritus).

The ad calls for a change in Canada's Middle East policy.

As if that policy is not already bad enough against Israel, the ad calls for the Canadian government "to publicly and unequivocally demand the immediate and unilateral withdrawal of all Israeli military forces from the Palestinian territories occupied in June 1967 and the dismantlement of illegal settlements."

In June of 1967, there were no Palestinian territories to be occupied. In fact, they were won from the Jordanian and the Egyptian occupiers of Gaza. These territories were taken in a war of defence. Israel's attempts to give them up in exchange for peace have been rebuffed again and again, last in the fateful summer of 2000.

This ad calls for Israeli withdrawal in the face of continued terrorism without a demand for peace and security for Israel. This demand is unfair; it encourages terrorism as a means to achieve objectives, endangers Israel and creates in Canada a climate of anti-Semitism. I protest Mr. Brownstone's support of the statement by no longer supporting OXFAM-Canada.

Robert Krell
Vancouver

This letter was originally sent to Cassie Doyle, chair of OXFAM Canada, and is reprinted with permission.