09 January 10, 2009 - ObserverXtra

12 | COMMENT & OPINION
THE OBSERVER | Saturday, January 10, 2009
»LETTER TO THE EDITOR »OBSERVER Q&A
In light of the recent deaths in Afghanistan, should Canada speed up withdrawal of its troops?
In Gaza, enough is
certainly enough
To the Editor,
“Enough is enough,”
say Israeli leaders as
they continue their intentional
assault on
Gaza. I certainly agree
and ask myself, enough
of what? Especially,
since 30 Israelis and 540
Palestinians have died,
plus another 2,400 Palestinians
wounded, not
to mention the horrific
emotional toll this form
of humanitarian crisis
is taking on both Israelis
and Palestinians.
Does “enough is
enough” apply to the
rockets Hamas fires into
Israel’s area of Ashkelon?
This has to stop, as terror
is not helpful in seeking
a peaceful solution.
Ashkelon, north east of
Gaza is built on the site
once occupied by Palestinian
residents known
as Al-Jura and taken
over by immigrant Jews
in 1948. Many surviving
residents displaced from
Al-Jura became refugees
in Gaza and remain part
of the refugee population
there today.
“Enough is enough” also
applies to Israel, which occupied
Gaza from 1948 until
2005, when it gave Gaza
some separate status. The
occupation isolated and
restricted many people
within Gaza from the rest
of Palestine, plus allowed
for the establishment of
Jewish settlements. Refugee
camps became the
homes for many Palestinians,
forcing them to live
in an environment characterized
by isolation depression,
poverty and no
hope. A long term plan is
needed to bring healing to
their broken spirits so as
to give them some capacity
for positive change.
“Enough is enough” applies
to the international
community when in 2006,
as a result of a carefully
monitored and internationally
observed democratic
election Hamas
were elected to power
only to be rejected by Israel,
United States and
other countries, including
Canada, on the basis
of Hamas being terrorists.
Granted, Hamas had
an objective to get rid of
Israel, which I personally
do not support. I don’t be-
lieve Hamas was given
the time and respect to
officially modify that position
to a more tenable
and accountable position
for a peace process.
The ongoing recognition
of the Fatah leadership
continued by Israel and
the U.S. resulted in fragmenting
the Palestinians
one from the other.
The subsequent effect of
the imposed blockades,
trade barriers and the
withdrawing of financial
aid has done nothing less
than paralyze this people,
driving them into desperate
unacceptable living
conditions.
“Enough is enough” applies
to the “Wall” created
and built by Israel, that
literally cuts off Gaza
from the rest of world,
and the miles of the wall
that isolates, restricts,
maims and negatively
impacts all Palestinians
throughout the rest of
the West Bank. The wall,
an illusion of security,
blockades and limited
aid and intentionally relegates
the people of Gaza
to starvation diets, oppression,
minimal health
care, limited utilities and
freedom of movement.
Sadly, one’s inhumanity
toward another feeds a
breeding ground for more
unrest, anger and hatred,
which ultimately seeks
unhealthy alternatives.
The time has come for
Israel and Palestine, with
all the diplomacy the
non-self-serving nations
of the world can muster,
to implement a peace
plan. This plan will need
to affirm both Israel and
Palestine as autonomous
states, and have a plan
that addresses the issues
of borders, settlements,
the rights of Palestinian
refugees, plus the use of
utilities, roads and other
essentials needed for
survival by Palestinians.
All this will need international
monitoring and
support.
“Enough is enough” is
more than an expression
of false desperation, it is
the call for creative wisdom
in the search for a
just solution.
Letters to the Editor
are always welcome.
editor@woolwichobserver.com
Clint Rohr
St. Jacobs
“Yes. I think they should pull
them out. I don’t think it’s our
war to fight; it’s the Americans’
war.”
» Todd Mann
“Yes, I think they should speed
it up and get them out of there,
because I don’t think we’re
going to change the thoughts
or ways of those people over
there.”
“I think our boys are over there
doing the best they can. Now
that we have a set date, we
should accomplish as much as
we can before we pull out.”
» John de Boer
» Tyler Van Allen
»THE VIEW FROM HERE | SCOTT ARNOLD
“I think they should have been
brought home a long time
ago.”
» Leanna Hamlyn
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