NDP condemns situation in Gaza
http://www.ndp.ca/page/6139 Sun 3 Feb 2008
TORONTO - New Democrats are deeply concerned about the escalation of the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza and the recurring violations of international humanitarianand human rights law. Innocent civilians in Gaza have become victims of the Israeli government’s collective punishment. Civilians are also suffering from ongoing rocket attacks. Urgent measures are required to ensure that all Palestinians and Israelis have their human rights respected, including access to basic living necessities and human security.
New Democrats also deplore the failure of Stephen Harper’s government to play a constructive role on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The emergency session the UN Human Rights Council saw Canada voting alone against a resolution condemning the blockade. Last week, the UN Security Council failed to adopt a resolution on Gaza after five days of debate. The NDP echoes the call of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights which urged the international community to “intensify its efforts to ensure that the human rights dimension of this conflict is properly addressed.”
Canada should be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
The NDP:
calls on the Government of Israel to end the economic blockade, cease its practice of collective punishment and to immediately remove barriers to the delivery of desperately needed humanitarian aid; calls on the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, and the Government of Egypt to strongly urge Hamas to end rocket attacks on innocent Israelis; urges the Palestinian leadership to resolve their differences to enhance the prospect of a peaceful resolution of differences and to open the door to the negotiation of a secure two-state solution; calls on the Government of Canada to increase its aid to Palestinians through the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA); Calls on the Government of Canada to condemn the violence and loss of life and to engage in a constructive manner in upcoming debates at the UN.
Stephen Harper’s unbalanced approach to the Middle East has worsened an already difficult situation. The NDP condemns the failure of the Conservative Government to use its diplomatic offices at the United Nations and in its bilateral relations with Israel and the Palestinian authority to work towards a constructive and lasting solution.