Letters

Mála Poist

'An Phoblacht' welcomes readers' letters. Letters in Irish or English should be kept short (no more than 200 words) and typed or handwritten clearly, double-spaced and on one side of the paper only. Name and address should be supplied for verification, but these will not be published if we are so requested.

Cuireann 'An Phoblacht' fáilte roimh litreacha ónár léitheoirí. Scríobh i nGaeilge nó i mBéarla. Is fearr litreacha gearra (200 focal ar a méid) clóscríofa nó lámhscríofa go soiléir ar thaobh amháin den leathanach. Cuir ainm agus seoladh leis ach ní fhoilseoimid iad seo más é do thoil.

The White House, Saddam and Gaza

A chara,

After the sentencing of Saddam Hussein to death by hanging for war crimes, US White House spokesperson Tony Snow said: "We're not holding up score cards. We simply think it's important that victims of violence have redress."

Does that White House position also include the victims of Israel's murderous assaults on Lebanon and Gaza?

Is mise,

Roy Thornton,

Kilbarrack,

Dublin 5.

Suspend Israel's EU privileges

A chara,

Under the terms of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, operative since 2000, Israel enjoys privileged trading arrangements with the European Union. However, Article 2 of the Agreement states that it may be suspended if Israel does not abide by 'democratic principles' and respect for 'human rights' in its domestic and international dealings.

This Thursday, 9 November, the Agreement Political Sub-Committee will be meeting with Israels in Brussels. We would like them to consider the following:

Given that, in its dealings with the Palestinians, Israel is in breach of over 70 UN Resolutions, in breach of the Geneva Convention, in breach of the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and in breach of the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights, due to its discriminatory practices against Palestinians (including those who are citizens of Israel), due to its oppressive, brutal and illegal occupation of Palestinian territory, which is denying Palestinians access to work, education and health and destroying their economy, and due to its illegal settlements built on stolen land; has ignored the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice at the Hague, which declared Israel's Apartheid Wall illegal; and has failed to maintain recognised international standards in the matter of administrative detainees.

For all these reasons, and including the current ethnic cleansing of the Gaza Strip, the Association Agreement should be suspended now. Failure to do so makes a mockery not just of international law and protocols but of the very treaties through which the EU does business.

To deliver this message we will be picketing the EU office, Bedford Street, Belfast on Saturday, 11 November at 1.30pm.

Is mise,

Caitlin Ni Chonaill,

Belfast Spokesperson,

Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign,

9 University Street,

BT7 9FY.

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