I am writing to express my support for the efforts of Gush Shalom to warnIsraeli military officers that their actions in perpetuating the militaryoccupation of territories seized in 1967 may in some instances comprise warcrimes, for which they could one day be held legally responsible.Extra-judicial killings, house demolitions, arbitrary detention, preventionof ambulances, and the bombing of civilian apartments are all examples ofwar crimes under international law, and unfortunately, have all occured,with alarming frequency, in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories.
I support the courage of Gush Shalom in speaking out against theseatrocities. Far from being ” treasonous, ” the issuance of such warnings isin fact the patriotic duty of all citizens in a democracy who wish toprotect the honour of their nation. Any government attempt to silence thecautionary voice of Gush Shalom or its supporters would therefore be bothundemocratic and dishonourable, and perhaps even illegal.
It is my hope that you will heed the advice of Gush Shalom and put animmediate end to any activities which could expose Israeli forces to chargesof war crimes. A simple means of facilitating this, while simultaneouslysecuring peace for Israel, would be to end the illegal occupation of thePalestinian territories.
Svend Robinson, MP
Burnaby-Douglas, Canada