NCCAR Deeply Concerned About Humanitarian and Political Crisis in Gaza

Ottawa - June 18, 2007 - NCCAR is deeply concerned about the continuing humanitarian and political crisis in the Gaza Strip and fear by residents of a massive Israeli offensive.  We call on Canada to use its voice of reason and diplomacy by urging Israel to exercise restraint, allowing the international community the opportunity they need to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Gaza.

Although it comes regrettably late, Canada's restoration of aid to the Palestinian government is a positive step, but we believe Canada can and must do more. We call on Canada and the international community to pursue immediately, urgent diplomatic efforts to encourage the Palestinian factions to move towards reconciliation and moderation.

“We cannot forget that the current crisis is a direct result of Israeli and US policies which aimed to encourage confrontation and civil war amongst Palestinians. The continuing failure of US policy in the region has allowed Israel's occupation of Gaza and the West Bank to continue and has allowed the conflict and the violence to fester,” said NCCAR Executive Director, Samah Sabawi.

Canada is encouraged to take the lead and to seize the opportunities presented by the Saudi-drafted peace plan endorsed by the Arab League and push for its implementation.  Palestinians are at a critical point in their history. Never before have they needed so desperately, a unified, multilateral commitment to finding a permanent solution to a crisis that has cost far too many innocent Palestinian and Israeli lives.

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