Mideast view misinformed

Re: “Canada should forget UN seat bid” (Lethbridge Herald, May 14).

Owen Holmes’ depiction of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is disingenuous and misinformed. First, just to set the record straight for Mr. Holmes, in the most recent vote held at the UN on an anti-Israel resolution back in December, Canada broke its principled longstanding record of opposing one-sided resolutions and voted against Israel to many Canadians dismay. The resolution, cosponsored by North Korea and Zimbabwe, was presented at the UN in the immediate aftermath of Palestinian Islamic Jihad firing thousands of rockets at Israeli civilians from Gaza, something which was notably absent from the resolution. The resolution also condemned Israel’s anti-terrorism barrier along the West Bank; however, it completely failed to mention that the barrier was built in the backdrop of the Second Intifada which saw Palestinian terrorists kill over a thousand Israelis in suicide bombings, shootings, stonings, stabbings and rocket attacks.

As for alleged Israeli “occupation,” notwithstanding Mr. Holmes’ misinformed perceptions, Israel’s presence in the areas including Judea and Samaria which are completely in line with international law. Israel and the Jewish people have legitimate claims to Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) according to international law as these lands were promised to the Jewish people at the San Remo Conference which saw the establishment in Britishmandate Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people. Israel liberated these areas from Jordanian occupation following the 1967 SixDay War. Accordingly, there never was a sovereign of these disputed lands and you cannot occupy your own home.

Noah J. Lewis

Research Analyst, HonestReporting Canada Toronto