 
Letter to Prime Minister Paul Martin
Jerusalem City
22 March 2004
The Right Honourable Paul Martin
Prime Minister of Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
Dear Prime Minister:
We write to you from Jerusalem. Sheikh Yassin, spiritual leader
of Hamas, has just been assassinated by an Israeli helicopter rocket
attack as he left a mosque in Gaza City.
KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives, a coalition of
eleven major Canadian churches and church agencies, has sent us
as church leaders and laypersons on a mission of solidarity to the
Middle East. We are visiting Christian churches, as well as Palestinian
and Israeli civil society organizations, to express our support
for people and deepen our understanding of the conflict and steps
towards peace.
Since our arrival in Jerusalem on March 17, a number of Palestinians
have been killed each day, mainly in Gaza. These are Israeli reprisal
killings for the suicide bombing attacks in the port city of Ashdod,
just outside of Gaza. Two days ago, we were in Gaza City and saw
some of the destruction of the last four years.
KAIROS has 25 years of experience in supporting human rights and
peace-building programs in the region. We lament the violence and
killing of Israelis and Palestinians. Every life is sacred.
The killing of Sheikh Yassin has provoked strong reaction from
Palestinians. Around us in the West Bank and Gaza, mass demonstrations
and unrest are increasing. Our partners here are saying that the
assassination of Sheikh Yassin is a huge setback in efforts to build
foundations for peace. Like suicide bombings, targeted assassinations
destroy the fragile trust between Israelis and Palestinians.
Today our delegation calls for the immediate cessation of the Israeli
policy of targeted assassinations. We ask our government to voice
its opposition to Sheikh Yassin’s killing, and to all targeted
assassinations. We pray that Palestinian militant groups will not
carry out reprisal attacks on Israeli civilians. As people who live
here tell us, it is the poor and the innocent, many of them children,
who always pay the price for escalating violence.
Our years of work in this region, and our experiences this past
week in the cities, towns and refugee camps of the West Bank and
Gaza, confirm our belief that the Israeli occupation is the root
cause of the violence. Again and again, we have heard from both
Palestinians and Israelis, that peace is not possible without an
end to the occupation.
We know the occupation will not end tomorrow. A great deal of constructive
planning is needed to prepare a complete end to the occupation -
in a way that will ensure the security of Israel and a viable state
for Palestinians.
Canada is already contributing to this work at many levels. We
saw a community centre in the Amari Refugee Camp in Ramallah, which
is funded by CIDA. We have met with Canadian diplomatic personnel
here. It is with help from CIDA, that KAIROS supports Palestinian
and Israeli partners here working for peace.
It has been painful for us to witness the immense suffering and
violence in this region. Many believe the situation is hopeless.
We do not. In spite of the ongoing crisis in Gaza, Jerusalem and
the West Bank, people are setting up clinics and vocational training,
mobile dental units and literacy programs. People are organizing
local dialogue between Israeli and Palestinian intellectuals to
discuss practical solutions for the collaboration of two states
once peace is achieved.
Despite great obstacles, peace is achievable if each act of violence
is opposed and each act of peace encouraged. We urge you to act
now, Mr. Prime Minister. Canada has the international stature and
influence to play an even more significant role for peace in Israel/Palestine.
Sincerely,
Members of the delegation:
Right Reverend Peter Short – Moderator of the United Church
of Canada
Right Reverend Peter Coffin – Anglican Bishop of the Diocese
of Ottawa
Most Reverend Martin Currie – Catholic Bishop of Grand Falls,
Newfoundland
Dr. Andrea Mann – Regional Mission Coordinator, Anglican Church
of Canada
Dr. Paul Kingston – Professor of Political Science, University
of Toronto
Sister Margo Ritchie – Member of the leadership team for the
Sisters of St. Joseph
Mr. David Harris – Editor, Presbyterian Record
Ms. Mary Corkery – Executive Director, KAIROS
Mr. Dale Hildebrand – Middle East Coordinator, KAIROS
Cc: Honourable Bill Graham, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Don Sinclair, Canadian Ambassador to Israel
Steve Hibbard, Consul General to the Palestinian Authority
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