 
Alarm at the events occurring in the Middle East
A Letter to Foreign Affairs Minister Peter
MacKay
July 25, 2006
The Honourable Peter MacKay
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Government of Canada
Dear Minister MacKay:
We write to you with great alarm at the events occurring in the
Middle East. We have written to you before with our concerns, but
the current situation is ever more disturbing.
KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives unites eleven churches
and church agencies in action for justice and peace. For over three
decades, our members have worked, on an ecumenical basis, in partnership
and solidarity with non-governmental organizations in Palestine,
Israel and Lebanon, seeking a just peace for people of the Middle
East.
In this situation of great crisis, we are calling on our government
to use every diplomatic channel to effect an immediate ceasefire
in Lebanon and Gaza. In the context of the current devastation,
an “eventual ceasefire” is not an acceptable proposal.
With every minute that goes by without a ceasefire, there is further
threat to innocent lives and further destruction of communities.
Immediate diplomatic efforts are required to bring all parties to
the table in pursuit of a just and lasting peace.
While the hostilities continue, we must ask that our government
firmly and fully communicate the necessity that all parties--Lebanese,
Israeli and Palestinian--protect civilians and respect international
law.
We call on the government to abide by the stated priorities of
Canadian foreign policy, built on the foundations of international
law and the dignity of all persons. Canada can play a significant
role in facilitating a process, based on these principles, to bring
peace to this troubled region. We urge you to act immediately before
there is further suffering. Our thoughts and prayers are with you
and the people of Palestine, Lebanon and Israel.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Henry for
Mary Corkery.
Executive Director
KAIROS
Cc: Stephane Dion, Foreign Affairs Critique - Liberal Party
Cc: Francine Lalonde, Foreign Affairs Critique - Bloc Quebecois
Cc: Alexa McDonough, Foreign Affairs Critique - New Democratic
Party
 Top
of page
|
