Facts for the record

Letters

This letter was originally sent to Anne Roberts, a Vancouver city councillor and an instructor in Langara College's journalism department. The letter is in response to some comments made by Roberts, who was one of the introducers of John Pilger's film Palestine is Still the Issue, which screened at Langara College Feb. 6.

Dear Anne Roberts:

I think it's high time that members of the left have a serious look in the mirror. Your one-sided approach to this issue is what, in my opinion, is chilling. The Middle East conflict is an extremely complicated issue and your speech (excerpts contained herein) displays facile, ill-informed, misguided and biased rhetoric. It's ironic that you call Clayton Ruby et al's article chilling when those authors have spent a lifetime defending the underdogs of this world. I cannot begin to educate you, the already converted (pro-Palestinian), except to say that by adopting the opinions that Zionism is akin to apartheid and the Aspers control the "pro-Israeli media," you do display your profound bias and I am sorry to say anti-Semitism. You are blinded by your knee-jerk, politically correct, fashionable opinions.

If you are such a humanitarian and peace activist then where was your outrage for more than 600 men, women and children murdered by suicide bombers in the last two years, for countless other victims of Israel over 50 years of terrorism from their "neighbors" who refuse to accept their existence (except by referring to them as that "Zionist Entity"), not to mention the thousands of Jews forced off Arab land and imprisoned generally in the Middle East?

It would be great if you spoke out against injustice for everyone in the Middle East. But for some reason the left is blind to anything that might detract from the simplistic view that the Palestinians are good and Israel is bad. For you, terrorists become liberators and a free democratic state defending itself is an oppressor.

I am going to list some facts which perhaps may stick with you by osmosis because heaven forbid you should ever let facts get in the way of your truth. Facts:

1.The state of Israel was formed by a United Nations declaration to deal with millions of death camp survivors who no one (not even Canada) wanted.

2. The Arab world rejected (as they do today) the state of Israel and declared war. They lost.

3. Millions of "Palestinians" were displaced and lost their homes either because they left voluntarily or because of the consequences of war.

4. Palestinians were expelled from almost every Arab state including Jordan (which legally and historically ought to be Palestine).

5. No Arab nation has ever assisted the Palestinians other than by way of lip service.

6. A war of terror has raged against Israel since its inception.

7. The so-called occupied lands were obtained by Israel in a war in defence of itself.

8. Palestinians define "occupied territories" as the entire state of Israel.

9. Yasser Arafat was already offered everything he now says he wants by Israel immediately prior to the so-called intifada.

10. Monies donated to the Palestinian Authority have been siphoned off by Yassser Arafat for personal gain and in support of terrorists. (This is currently being investigated by the European Economic Union.)

11. The Palestinians claim they have a hardship because Israel makes it difficult to pass into the country, Israel being their only source of income.

I would like to add, having had family who grew up in the state of Israel, that terror is wondering if your children will come home whole or in bits and pieces from a shopping mall, pizzeria or discothèque. Thankfully, you have not, nor will ever, experience such a horror.

Finally, I would like to know if your speech reflects only your own personal misguided opinion or is official COPE policy. For many years, I voted, worked for and supported COPE. Based on your aforementioned speech, I will certainly never support you again. I might suggest that you focus your political energy on municipal issues, for which you were elected and hopefully have better expertise.

Peter J. Nadler
Vancouver

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