Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Embassy of Israel
2 Palace Green
London
W8 4QB
Saturday 17th January 2009
Your Excellency
I am very concerned at the current situation in Gaza. I feel that the use of weapons such as white phosphorus and the targeting of Universities, hospitals, mosques, schools and UN compounds constitute a grave breach of International law.
According to former US President Jimmy Carter, writing in the Washington Post on Thursday 8th January: `After 12 days of "combat," the Israeli Defense Forces reported that more than 1,000 targets were shelled or bombed. During that time, Israel rejected international efforts to obtain a cease-fire, with full support from Washington. Seventeen mosques, the American International School, many private homes and much of the basic infrastructure of the small but heavily populated area have been destroyed. This includes the systems that provide water, electricity and sanitation. Heavy civilian casualties are being reported by courageous medical volunteers from many nations, as the fortunate ones operate on the wounded by light from diesel-powered generators. `
Many innocent people in Gaza including children have been killed and orphaned,
hospital officials in the al-Quds hospital in Gaza City’s Tal al-Hawa districts alleged that a fire was sparked by “phosphorous shells”.
The disgaceful bombing of the UN al-Fakhura school in the Jabaliya refugee camp on Tuesday 6th January was especially outrageous
There can surely be no justification for the attack on the UN compound on Thursday 15th January that destroyed millions of dollars of desperately needed aid.
It is going to be extremely difficult for the people of Gaza to recover from the devastation they have suffered. I feel Israel has an obligation to make good all the damage caused.
Israel claims to be a democracy – in fact the only one in the Middle East – what sort of democracy does this to its neighbours and what sort of democracy denies its own citizens (the Arab parties) from running in upcoming elections.
I urge you to use your influence to get an immediate ceasefire which will benefit your country as well as the long suffering people of Gaza.
Yours Sincerely,
Mr Paul O’Hanlon
Comments
Hide the following 4 comments
Who will add this petition to the Number 10 petitions website for us?
17.01.2009 09:22
and add the following petition
We, the undersigned, as the prime minister to order that our armed forces take military action against Israeli forces commiting war crimes in Gaza
Full description
We, the undersigned, as the prime minister to order the Royal Navy, Air Force and British Army to take miliary action to neutralize the IDF, IAF and Israeli Navy threat against the Palestinian people, to prevent further war crimes being committed against the civilians, as we did in Kosovo to prevent further war crimes by Serbia.
Jack Sprat
Terminating Civilisation
17.01.2009 12:16
It is not good that my 'Uncle Billy' should seem to be proved right in what he said when he was about ninety "The older I get the more I think that Fascism is the only answer." That caused quite a furore, and to some he had to make out it had been a joke. He loved Israel, and I think that was what he was talking about.
I repost a comment I put to an article that has now been hidden so this comment was also hidden from the index:
"Civilisation culminates in Gaza?
I once read about a Jewish girl in a Baltic state who agreed to speak in support of the Balfour Declaration before she had read it. Did read it, and because the posters were already out, was on the platform, but did not speak. Later saying that there was not enough room or water in Palestine for all the Jews in the World, and what would happen to the people already there? She emigrated to South Africa where she was active against apartheid. I cannot recollect her name, cannot now refind that info on the web. Can you name her for me?
In WW2 I heard a group of Jews discussing a letter recieved through a neutral country, people were disbelieving of what it said, and fearful that if they publicised what it said, that their relatives in Europe would suffer.
When Israel was being born, One person was insistent that the term Anti-Semitic must only be used for people who also hate Arabs. The group he was then discussing with did not agree, they did not accept that would be essential for a successful secure Israel to be established.
The British Govt should have had funding available once they had made the Balfour Declaration, and Europe should have made funds avaiable to fully compensate all the dispossesed - but where can displaced Palestinians go? It would be far cheaper for the Americans to have sorted that out rather than corrupting the beautiful dream that Israel really was in its early days, with ongoing armaments and subsidies.
It is important to remember how well Jewish Culture flourished under the Moors in Spain. Israel should have sent an Ambassador to talk to Hamas as soon as they were elected.
By killing Hamas leaders in the way they are, Israel indicates there are spies, and they are almost certain to be Fatah supporters. Palestinians are being split, possibly many are bought. The US in Iraq think they have established a long term basis for peace by buying some faction leaders, time will tell, it is far cheaper to buy leaders than to pay to solve the problem. But when people hang their traitors, the problem will be far worse.
And the obvious weapon for Arabs to use against European origined Israelis is very frightening. Will Gaza be the culmination of Civilization?"
I could not get Uncle Billy to see that had Dayan been even cleverer he might have seen a way to lose his war in such a way that Arabs guaranteed peace and security for Israel.
There is another problem for Israel - How to make friends with Iran - without playing on the traditional Iran-Arab enmity.
Find a way to use the developing economic crash (that might be essential to preserve Life on Earth) to create a sustainable world based on co-operation and mutual aid with fair shares of poverty all around.
People who think I am being a bit sarky about Civilisation should look up "Civilisation, Its Cause and Cure" written over 100 years ago by Edward Carpenter.
Ilyan
e-mail: Terminate Civilisation?
Sorry Jack but
17.01.2009 16:46
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7835302.stm
Johnny Be Good
As we are at it...
17.01.2009 17:44
Unbelievable isnt'it ?
Johnny Be Good