(The following article is from the October 1-15, 2007 issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $25/year, or $12 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $25 US per year; other overseas readers - $25 US or $35 CDN per year. Send to: People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 133 Herkimer St. Unit 502, Hamilton, ON, L8P 2H3.)

People's Voice Editorial, Oct. 1-15, 2007

While media attention in North America is focused on the White House campaign to demonize Iran, a war crime of massive proportions - the illegal collective punishment of an entire people - is being committed by one of Washington's closest allies.

     The Israeli government says that if the firing of Qassam rockets continues from Gaza, it will declare the area a hostile territory and cut off electricity and fuel. The world must act quickly to prevent this genocidal threat. As UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has warned, "Such a step would be contrary to Israel's obligations towards the civilian population under international humanitarian and human rights law."

     Of course, Israel has thumbed its nose at international law and resolutions of the United Nations for decades, with the full support of the United States. While Israeli Prime Minister Olmert accuses Hamas of being "a terrorist organization that has taken control of the Gaza Strip," his own armed forces rain down death and terror on his neighbours, as recently as the savage bombing of Lebanon in 2006, which killed hundreds of innocent civilians. That scenario may be repeated soon; Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak told a recent cabinet meeting that the military is moving closer to a large-scale operation in Gaza.

     Astoundingly, given their criminal actions, the Israeli leaders have the nerve to claim (in Olmert's words) that they will take into account "the intention to avoid a humanitarian crisis."

     It's a bit late for that. Israel's policies have already turned Gaza into hell on earth, a massive jail for 1.4 million prisoners suffering almost universal unemployment and deprivation.

     Shamefully, Canada under PM Stephen Harper has turned into one of the biggest cheerleaders for the Olmert/Barak thugs. This shocking stance is one of the key reasons to demand that the Tory government be driven out of office.