 
Peace in the Middle East
A Letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
10 September 2003
Honourable Bill Graham
Minister of Foreign Affairs
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0G2
Dear Mr. Graham:
KAIROS continues to follow events in the Middle East, particularly
in Iraq and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) which are
significant focus areas for our peace and human rights work. Both
areas continue to suffer as a result of violent conflict and war.
One year ago, KAIROS and church leaders wrote to Prime Minister
Chrétien urging the Canadian government to seek peaceful
solutions to the Iraq crisis and to abstain from any war against
Iraq. Your government listened to these voices for peace and ultimately
decided, on principle, to not participate in the attack led by the
United States. Time has underscored the wisdom of the Canadian decision,
with chaos and violence following the bombing of Iraq. We thank
you again for this leadership.
We believe the principles of international law and justice that
have guided the Canadian position on Iraq must also be applied to
the Israeli Occupation of Palestinian Territories and the ongoing
conflict in that region. A common global commitment to these principles
can yet bring peace to both of these conflicts.
We urge Canada to commit to the following directions in moving
a peace agenda forward.
In Iraq
Despite the circumstances that have led to the current state of
affairs in Iraq, it is our duty and responsibility to help the Iraqi
people rebuild their shattered country.
1. End the U.S. occupation of Iraq as soon as possible.
The events of the past five months demonstrate the inability of
the U.S. to oversee security and reconstruction efforts in Iraq.
It is imperative that the United Nations take overall responsibility
for the rebuilding effort and the transition process to Iraqi self-rule.
The U.S. is currently attempting to enlist other countries, through
the UN, to provide resources and troops to restabilize Iraq, under
U.S. authority. Canadian political support for such an initiative
will likely be sought by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell when
you meet with him this week. Such support would be tantamount to
an endorsement of a continuation of the U.S. occupation. We strongly
urge you to resist any initiative that would leave Iraq under U.S.
political and military control.
2. Press for a leading role for the UN
Canada should support a more comprehensive UN-led operation that
can work with Iraqis in stabilizing the human security needs in
Iraq and swiftly transfer the affairs of Iraq to an Iraqi government.
The UN has the expertise and experience to guide Iraq to a representative
government under a process that would not be tainted by the interests
of any one country. Canada can provide specific assistance in creating
a new constitution for Iraqis that will enshrine human rights and
democratic government as principles for the formation of a new society.
3. Provide a Marshall Plan for Iraq
Twelve years of sanctions and war have brought unprecedented destruction
to Iraq’s infrastructure. A massive aid plan is required to
meet the immediate and long-term needs of the Iraqi people. The
Iraqi people have been living a catastrophe that will only continue
without a decisive and clear plan to end it now. While U.S. war
reparations should form the bulk of this aid, other countries will
also need to contribute given the huge needs. The UN is the appropriate
body to administer such an aid package.
In the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel
The so-called “road map to peace” is not working. While
the goals of the road map were laudable (an end to the Occupation,
an end to attacks on Israel, a viable Palestinian state), the road
map’s dependence on Israeli and Palestinian self-compliance
was risky. We urge the Canadian government to consider the following
directions, based on international law, to achieve peace.
1. End the Occupation of Palestinian Territories
Longstanding UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 provide
the framework for complete Israeli withdrawal to political borders
as they existed on June 4, 1967. Instead of insisting on this as
non-negotiable, Canada and other nations have allowed Israel to
use the Occupation as a bargaining chip and foothold to deepen the
Occupation and expand Jewish settlements inside the West Bank and
Gaza.
2. End the use of violence, by Israelis and by Palestinians,
against the civilian population
Supporters of Israel’s Occupation argue that a withdrawal
would only allow Palestinian military elements to mount more organized
attacks on Israel. The opposite is more likely: that Palestinian
support for attacks on Israel would dissipate if a true Palestinian
state were to emerge. Palestinian nationalism would be channeled
from armed resistance into a nation-state whose national interests
would be imperiled by any further attacks on Israel.
Until the Occupation is ended, Canada also has an obligation to
press for an immediate end to all violations of the Fourth Geneva
Convention, including targeted assassinations, land seizures, and
restrictions on movement. Canada should also press the new Palestinian
Prime Minister, Ahmed Qureia, to ensure that those who assist suicide
bombings, or any other form of violence against innocent civilians,
be brought to justice.
3. Provide for a leading UN mandate in the transition to Palestinian
statehood
Great sacrifices of human life continue despite negotiations between
Israel and the Palestinian Authority. It is time for more concerted
measures that involve the UN whose mandate is to promote peace and
implement international law. The UN would oversee a process that
would involve discussing modalities of implementation of UNSCR 242
and 338, not their negotiation. As the West Bank, Gaza, and East
Jerusalem have not been under the recognized jurisdiction of any
state since 1948, the UN Security Council can assert its legal authority
over these areas. The UN could assume the implementation of a plan
for Palestinian statehood, one that would also provide security
guarantees for the state of Israel.
4. Provide a coordinated aid package for a new Palestinian state
The Palestinian economy has been devastated by 36 years of war
and Occupation. Moving a new Palestine out of poverty will require
a coordinated international aid plan under a new, democratic Palestinian
government. Canadian expertise in human rights charters, and the
formation of a responsible judiciary, can also contribute to a state
that is free from corruption and repression.
As Christians, we call for Canadian foreign policy to be built
on the foundations of international law and the dignity of all persons.
Canada’s decision to not participate in the attack on Iraq
was based on this foundation. Your government has and can continue
to provide significant leadership in today’s world. We ask
that you apply this framework to the ongoing issues in Iraq and
to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
We would be pleased to discuss these directions further with you
and your staff and look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Mary Corkery,
Executive Director
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