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(The following article is from the February 1-14, 2009, 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.)

Resolution passed by the Vancouver Elementary School Teachers' Association (VESTA), a local of the British Columbia Teachers' Federation, to be debated at the upcoming BCTF annual general meeting March 14-17, 2009 in Vancouver:

"That the BCTF strongly condemns the recent Israeli bombardment and attacks on the defenseless people of Gaza. The targeting of UN facilities, schools, universities and medical centers, and the killing of hundreds of Palestinian civilians, is totally unacceptable.

     "And that the BCTF calls upon the Canadian government to support the international effort to achieve a long term ceasefire that recognizes the right of the Palestinian people of Gaza to a viable territory and independent international relations free from Israeli blockade and military intervention.

     "And finally that the BCTF support the call by Palestinian human rights organizations for the U.N. Security Council to call an emergency session and adopt concrete measures, including the imposition of sanctions, in order to ensure Israel's fulfillment of its obligations under international humanitarian law."