I will show my support for Palestinians

RE: Israel approves homes in East Jerusalem (Oct. 26)

I read with concern that Israel has approved construction of 176 houses for Israelis only in an Arab neighbourhood in occupied East Jerusalem in addition to having approved construction of roughly 3,000 additional houses in the occupied West Bank. There are already 400,000 Israeli colonists in the West Bank alone.

Even though the United Nations Security Council in Resolution 2334 (2016) reaffirmed “that the establishment by Israel of settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, has no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law”, our current government has done and will do nothing to oppose the illegal actions of Israel. There is no point in me writing to my member of Parliament, David Sweet, who is an uncritical and unshakable supporter of that foreign state.

So what can I do? I’ll talk to my friends and family when the occasion presents itself about why the unjust treatment of Palestinians torments me, I’ll wear a Palestinian scarf when it’s cold enough outside to show my support for that oppressed people and, when possible, I’ll avoid purchasing Israeli products and supporting Israeli businesses until the occupation ends. Andrew Bell, Stoney Creek