I was shocked by Eddie Johnson's November 30th. letter to the editor, titled "Israel Ethnically Cleansing Palestine" in a recent edition of this paper.
In his letter, Johnson viciously demonized the State of Israel for protecting its citizens and painted a very complex issue as black and white.
The aptly named 'Operation Pillar of Defense' was a defense mission to protect Israel's civilians against rocket fire from Hamas terrorists in Gaza. For over twelve years, Hamas have been reigning rockets indiscriminately at southern Israeli villages.
If a terrorist group was ever to fire rockets at any populated part of Canada, it would be our government's duty to protect our civilians. No other country would sit by and let their citizens be targeted by terrorists.
It is essential to note that the Israeli Defense Forces did not target the people of Gaza. This operation was an attack on Hamas. In fact, the Israeli army did everything in its power to minimize civilian casualties. Israel is the only country in the world that drops leaflets before bombing an area to warn civilians to leave. Israel also took injured people from Gaza into Israeli hospitals to treat them and delivered thousands of tons of aid into Gaza even as the conflict escalated.
It is also important to remember that Israel did not enter Gaza at all. It defended itself from attacks from the Hamas terrorists in Gaza and stood up reservists, but troops never entered Gaza.
Israel did all it could to help the civilians of Gaza. It is a known fact that Hamas terrorists use schools, hospitals and other crowded locations to fire its missiles. It is unfortunate that Hamas could be so inhumane and use the people of Gaza as human shields.
That being said, the loss of any innocent lives is a tragedy and my thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of those killed in this conflict.
Peace cannot be accomplished through rocket fire or by condemning one side only. Lasting peace can only be accomplished through direct negotiations between willing partners. We should all continue to hope for peace in the Middle East and an end to all bloodshed.
Dick Harris
MP, Cariboo-Prince George
