Cotler Tables “Grandmothers’ Petition” for Captive Gilad Shalit
Ottawa, October 27, 2010 – The Honourable Irwin Cotler, MP and Critic for Human Rights, rose in the House of Commons today to table a petition on behalf of the “Grandmothers for Gilad Shalit” – grounded in the foundational principles of international humanitarian law and human rights – and protesting the illegal cross-border abduction of Gilad Shalit during the period of a ceasefire arrangement to the Hamas-run Gaza Strip.
Seeking to draw the House of Commons’ attention to the violations of international humanitarian law, the Grandmothers’ Petition notes that Gilad Shalit has been denied all his most basic human rights including even verifiable proof of life, visitation rights by a relief agency, medical care and basic minimal communication with his family. Shalit has been held incommunicado for more than four (4) years.
Accordingly the Grandmothers’ Petition calls on the Canadian Government, the United Nations and international humanitarian relief agencies such as the Red Cross to:
· uphold the applicable standards of international humanitarian law, including proof of life, visitation rights and communication between him and his family as a bare minimum.
· condition Canadian aid transferred to Gaza on adherence to these basic principles: that the Palestinian Authority commit itself to Shalit’s repatriation and that Canada use its good offices to put an end to these violations of international humanitarian law to secure his release and return him to his family as a matter of fundamental decency and justice.
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For further information, please contact Howard Liebman at the office of the Honourable Irwin Cotler,(514) 283-0171 or Cotlei1@parl.gc.ca.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
up date on petition (see petition below)
Dear Friends;
I want to bring you up to date. First, let me thank all who signed the petition especially those who made a special effort to come to my house Monday am. Over the course mainly on Monday we ended up with 56 signatures on our petition.. That document is on its way to Irwin Cotler MP who will table it in Parliament, along with another MP, I'm told. This will not happen until the week of October 25 , because Parliament is off next week (a really tough job there) and Irwin will be in Europe the following week. I will let you know when it comes to pass.
Meanwhile I will check with Howard Liebman, Irwin's assistant, if we should hold off writing our individual letters accompanied by the petition until after it is tabled. I'll let you know what he says.
Now, we are ready for another project. I wonder if one or more of you would undertake arranging a meeting with the Canadian Red Cross, for the purpose of urging that organization to a) find out what the international Red Cross has actually done, and b) to urge the Canadian RC to put pressure on the IRC on behalf of the isolated Gilad Shalit. I' m looking for volunteers for this new undertaking.
All the best, lehitra'ot (I just had a Hebrew lesson),
Sally
I want to bring you up to date. First, let me thank all who signed the petition especially those who made a special effort to come to my house Monday am. Over the course mainly on Monday we ended up with 56 signatures on our petition.. That document is on its way to Irwin Cotler MP who will table it in Parliament, along with another MP, I'm told. This will not happen until the week of October 25 , because Parliament is off next week (a really tough job there) and Irwin will be in Europe the following week. I will let you know when it comes to pass.
Meanwhile I will check with Howard Liebman, Irwin's assistant, if we should hold off writing our individual letters accompanied by the petition until after it is tabled. I'll let you know what he says.
Now, we are ready for another project. I wonder if one or more of you would undertake arranging a meeting with the Canadian Red Cross, for the purpose of urging that organization to a) find out what the international Red Cross has actually done, and b) to urge the Canadian RC to put pressure on the IRC on behalf of the isolated Gilad Shalit. I' m looking for volunteers for this new undertaking.
All the best, lehitra'ot (I just had a Hebrew lesson),
Sally
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Petition to Canadian Parliament
We, the undersigned, are Canadian citizens and grandmothers, who identify ourselves as Grandmothers for Gilad Shalit. We wish to draw the attention of the House of Commons in Parliament assembled to the following:
That the Canadian people have a profound commitment to International Law and are guided by the basic human rights based on general legal principles, as well as specific agreements to which Canada is a party, including the Geneva Convention.
That Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was abducted in Israel and taken into Gaza on June 26, 2006, during a cease-fire arrangement. He was 19 years old. For more than 4 years Gilad Schalit , has been held in complete isolation and has been denied access to any rights afforded to him under International Law. No visitations by individuals, doctors, or the International Red Cross have been permitted by his Palestinian captors.
That Canada announced a contribution of $300 million over five years in support of the peace process and of Palestinian reform and development, is contributing $15 million to the World Bank’s Palestinian Reform and Development Plan Trust Fund, and has already provided more than $400 million for development initiatives in the West Bank and Gaza.
Therefore, your petitioners call upon the Government of Canada:
To insist that the Red Cross, the UN and other humanitarian agencies uphold the applicable standards of humanitarian law which would include a proof of life, a visit to the captured soldier, and communication between him and his family, as a bare minimum;
To condition any Canadian aid transferred to Gaza from the Canadian Government on adherence to these basic principles;
To insist that the Palestinian Authority, including all ministers and leadership in the Palestinian Authority, be fully committed to repatriate Gilad Shalit;
To advance in any way, along with Canada’s allies, the process to the release of Gilad Shalit who has been held in captivity for more than four years, in conditions contrary to any standards of International Law held so precious by this country and its citizens.
To use Canada’s good offices in bi-lateral and multi-lateral discussions to put an end to this violation of International Humanitarian Law, and secure Gilad Shalit’s release and return to Israel.
That the Canadian people have a profound commitment to International Law and are guided by the basic human rights based on general legal principles, as well as specific agreements to which Canada is a party, including the Geneva Convention.
That Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was abducted in Israel and taken into Gaza on June 26, 2006, during a cease-fire arrangement. He was 19 years old. For more than 4 years Gilad Schalit , has been held in complete isolation and has been denied access to any rights afforded to him under International Law. No visitations by individuals, doctors, or the International Red Cross have been permitted by his Palestinian captors.
That Canada announced a contribution of $300 million over five years in support of the peace process and of Palestinian reform and development, is contributing $15 million to the World Bank’s Palestinian Reform and Development Plan Trust Fund, and has already provided more than $400 million for development initiatives in the West Bank and Gaza.
Therefore, your petitioners call upon the Government of Canada:
To insist that the Red Cross, the UN and other humanitarian agencies uphold the applicable standards of humanitarian law which would include a proof of life, a visit to the captured soldier, and communication between him and his family, as a bare minimum;
To condition any Canadian aid transferred to Gaza from the Canadian Government on adherence to these basic principles;
To insist that the Palestinian Authority, including all ministers and leadership in the Palestinian Authority, be fully committed to repatriate Gilad Shalit;
To advance in any way, along with Canada’s allies, the process to the release of Gilad Shalit who has been held in captivity for more than four years, in conditions contrary to any standards of International Law held so precious by this country and its citizens.
To use Canada’s good offices in bi-lateral and multi-lateral discussions to put an end to this violation of International Humanitarian Law, and secure Gilad Shalit’s release and return to Israel.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
grandmothers' for GS e-mails #4
Dear friends;
I had a visit yesterday with Irwin Cotler who offered to assist in the following way. He has previously prepared a petition about Schalit to go to Parliamentarians, and he will send me a copy of that petition (today supposedly). Then he suggested that we sign it with 25-30 grandmothers names to send to members of Parliament. Then he thought we could do a press release about this petition. Please respond to this plan. Sally
I had a visit yesterday with Irwin Cotler who offered to assist in the following way. He has previously prepared a petition about Schalit to go to Parliamentarians, and he will send me a copy of that petition (today supposedly). Then he suggested that we sign it with 25-30 grandmothers names to send to members of Parliament. Then he thought we could do a press release about this petition. Please respond to this plan. Sally
grandmothers' for GS e-mails #3
Dear friends:
A meeting was held on Sept. 13 as proposed in the previous e-mail, and present were a group of interested and interesting grandmothers, with many ideas and approaches to our mission. Let me try to give you all the gist of the discussions.
Grandmothers for Gilad (we thought it more pungent to leave out "Schalit" in our title) is composed of Canadian women who have respect for human rights and for the rule of law, as per the values of Canadian Society. We are also grandmothers who, as grandmothers of boys of our own, cannot help but be horrified by by the torment that has occurred to Gilad Schalit.
Gilad Schalit was abducted on June 25, 2006, from an Isaeli army post near the Gaza strip by Palestinian terrorists from Gaza. He was 19 years old. From that date to the present he has been kept in total isolation by the Palestinians somewhere in Gaza. We do not know if he is alive, and if alive, we know nothing about the status of his health, both physically and mentally, nor do we have any knowledge about conditions of his imprisonment. No visitation by individuals, doctors, or the International Red Cross havebeen permitted by his Palestinian captors.
At the same time that Gilad was abducted, the Palestinian terrorists killed two of his companions. Why then did these terrorists choose kidnapping for Gilad Schalit instead of death as they had for the other two boys? Because they knew that Gilad would then become a bargaining chip to demand that Israel release, not one, but a thousand Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. The history of Israeli trades for their own soldiers told them it could be a profitable venture. Not only do they want unconscionable large numbers of prisoners, but their demands include at least 450 convicted killers.
What then is the aim of Grandmothers for Gilad (GforG)? First, we think it important to make the Canadian public aware of this terrible situation for this young Israeli boy. Canadian society is one where international law is respected, and by not permitting normal human contacts with Gilad Schalit, Canadians will learn that the Palestinians thereby are in direct violation of the Third Geneva Convention.
Secondly, we intend to bring this issue to the attention of our political leaders in Canada. I think we have to put a fire under our politicians because I learned today that Irwin Cotler had a program/project re. Gilad Schalit that he took to members of Parliament to no avail. So we have our work cut out for us. We will use snail mail, e-mail, personal contacts and any other means of communication with members of Parliament. But we also plan to create a web site for GforG information that will be available for leaders, media and the public at large. At a minimum, we hope and expect that our politicians will express a most reasonable demand for at least three things; one conversation by an appropriate individual (family member, rabbi, etc), one visit by a responsible doctor of international recognition, and one visit by the IRC.
Thirdly, although the International Red Cross (IRC) maintains that they have tried to see Gilad Schalit and have been refused visitation by his Gazan captors, we plan to contact the Canadian Red Cross to ask that they demand more intense efforts on the part of their parent organization, the IRC. We were reminded that the IRC is sheltering three convicted Hamas murderers in Jerusalem from deportation by Israel. The thought occurred at our meeting that perhaps the IRC is less active on behalf of Schalit than it ought to be or could be.
There followed discussion about the need for a mission statement for the GforG. Suggestions for the input in a mission statement included background, the abduction, the violation of Schalit's human rights, the failure of international orgranizations to intervene against his barbaric isolation, and the Canadian component. I now ask all participants to take a crack at writing the mission statement and send it to me. I expect that the statements will have much in common, and I will coordinate and finalize from these contributions to arrive at a statement that should suit our purpose.
Other matters of interest came up, such as, suggestions for the web site, how to expand our numbers, what additional contacts will be warranted, the specifics of letters to politicians, how to encourage other groups for Gilad Schalit, and so on. I leave these suggestions to another e-mail and/or meeting when they are more directly relevant as we progress.
I appreciate your contributions and look forward to continuing in our mission. I encourage everyone to spread the message and bring more grandmothers into the fold. You may forward my e-mails as you see fit.
Have a good and satisfactoryYom Kippur.
Sally
A meeting was held on Sept. 13 as proposed in the previous e-mail, and present were a group of interested and interesting grandmothers, with many ideas and approaches to our mission. Let me try to give you all the gist of the discussions.
Grandmothers for Gilad (we thought it more pungent to leave out "Schalit" in our title) is composed of Canadian women who have respect for human rights and for the rule of law, as per the values of Canadian Society. We are also grandmothers who, as grandmothers of boys of our own, cannot help but be horrified by by the torment that has occurred to Gilad Schalit.
Gilad Schalit was abducted on June 25, 2006, from an Isaeli army post near the Gaza strip by Palestinian terrorists from Gaza. He was 19 years old. From that date to the present he has been kept in total isolation by the Palestinians somewhere in Gaza. We do not know if he is alive, and if alive, we know nothing about the status of his health, both physically and mentally, nor do we have any knowledge about conditions of his imprisonment. No visitation by individuals, doctors, or the International Red Cross havebeen permitted by his Palestinian captors.
At the same time that Gilad was abducted, the Palestinian terrorists killed two of his companions. Why then did these terrorists choose kidnapping for Gilad Schalit instead of death as they had for the other two boys? Because they knew that Gilad would then become a bargaining chip to demand that Israel release, not one, but a thousand Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. The history of Israeli trades for their own soldiers told them it could be a profitable venture. Not only do they want unconscionable large numbers of prisoners, but their demands include at least 450 convicted killers.
What then is the aim of Grandmothers for Gilad (GforG)? First, we think it important to make the Canadian public aware of this terrible situation for this young Israeli boy. Canadian society is one where international law is respected, and by not permitting normal human contacts with Gilad Schalit, Canadians will learn that the Palestinians thereby are in direct violation of the Third Geneva Convention.
Secondly, we intend to bring this issue to the attention of our political leaders in Canada. I think we have to put a fire under our politicians because I learned today that Irwin Cotler had a program/project re. Gilad Schalit that he took to members of Parliament to no avail. So we have our work cut out for us. We will use snail mail, e-mail, personal contacts and any other means of communication with members of Parliament. But we also plan to create a web site for GforG information that will be available for leaders, media and the public at large. At a minimum, we hope and expect that our politicians will express a most reasonable demand for at least three things; one conversation by an appropriate individual (family member, rabbi, etc), one visit by a responsible doctor of international recognition, and one visit by the IRC.
Thirdly, although the International Red Cross (IRC) maintains that they have tried to see Gilad Schalit and have been refused visitation by his Gazan captors, we plan to contact the Canadian Red Cross to ask that they demand more intense efforts on the part of their parent organization, the IRC. We were reminded that the IRC is sheltering three convicted Hamas murderers in Jerusalem from deportation by Israel. The thought occurred at our meeting that perhaps the IRC is less active on behalf of Schalit than it ought to be or could be.
There followed discussion about the need for a mission statement for the GforG. Suggestions for the input in a mission statement included background, the abduction, the violation of Schalit's human rights, the failure of international orgranizations to intervene against his barbaric isolation, and the Canadian component. I now ask all participants to take a crack at writing the mission statement and send it to me. I expect that the statements will have much in common, and I will coordinate and finalize from these contributions to arrive at a statement that should suit our purpose.
Other matters of interest came up, such as, suggestions for the web site, how to expand our numbers, what additional contacts will be warranted, the specifics of letters to politicians, how to encourage other groups for Gilad Schalit, and so on. I leave these suggestions to another e-mail and/or meeting when they are more directly relevant as we progress.
I appreciate your contributions and look forward to continuing in our mission. I encourage everyone to spread the message and bring more grandmothers into the fold. You may forward my e-mails as you see fit.
Have a good and satisfactoryYom Kippur.
Sally
grandmothers' for GS e-mails #2
Dear Friends;
Now that I've thrown out the idea of Grandmothers for Gilad Schalit to you, and since some of you have responded,.and since those who have are enthusiastic, this brings me to the nextt step.
First, for those who are on my roster for the first time, look below and see the initial letter of invitation and concept. For those recipients who are male and thus not grandmothers, you are selected because I have no e-mail address for your wives who are grandmothers; so please forward this information to your mate.
Second, I'd like as many as are available and willing, to come to a meeting at my house ( 115 Sandringham Drive, Toronto) on September 13 at 2pm. The agenda is simple yet difficult; what is our goal and how do we go about achieving it. If possible let me know if you are coming, and a negative would also be welcome.
Third, my roster represents a starting point. Please expand our numbers by informing about Grandmothers for Gilad Schalit to your contacts and to whomever you think would be interested and useful. Iinvite and include any and all to our meeting.
Shanah Tova everyone. Good lealth and happiness for the coming year of 5771. Sally
Now that I've thrown out the idea of Grandmothers for Gilad Schalit to you, and since some of you have responded,.and since those who have are enthusiastic, this brings me to the nextt step.
First, for those who are on my roster for the first time, look below and see the initial letter of invitation and concept. For those recipients who are male and thus not grandmothers, you are selected because I have no e-mail address for your wives who are grandmothers; so please forward this information to your mate.
Second, I'd like as many as are available and willing, to come to a meeting at my house ( 115 Sandringham Drive, Toronto) on September 13 at 2pm. The agenda is simple yet difficult; what is our goal and how do we go about achieving it. If possible let me know if you are coming, and a negative would also be welcome.
Third, my roster represents a starting point. Please expand our numbers by informing about Grandmothers for Gilad Schalit to your contacts and to whomever you think would be interested and useful. Iinvite and include any and all to our meeting.
Shanah Tova everyone. Good lealth and happiness for the coming year of 5771. Sally
grandmothers' for GS e-mails #1
Dear Friends;
When I read Rabbi Friedberg's article in the CJN this past week calling on us all no longe to be silent about the barbaric treatment of Gilad Schalit I knew I had to do something.
Gilad Schalit has been held in "hell" by the Hamas in Gaza for more that four years. His torment began when Hamas terrorists abducted him from an Israeli army post, having previously killed his two comrades there. Hamas has kept Gilad Schalit completely isolated from the world, no letters, no family contact, not even permitting the Red Cross to visit him, although the organization claims it has attempted to do so on more than one occasion. This kind of deprivation is contrary to international law and a denial in the extreme of human rights.
What can we do about this? I believe we must make ourselves heard with the object of influencing major political leaders, especially Barack Obama, in the parts of the world where human rights are respected, to speak up, to pressure Hamas , to bring pressure on the other Palestinian leadership (Abas), and to make the case of Gilad Schalit a human rights issue.
How? Since I began to think of Gilad as a boy who could be my grandson--he was abducted when he was just 19 years of age--I suggest we form a body of concerned woman like me who are grandmothers, who feel as I do that we have a duty to defend and free Gilad Schalit. Hence, lets call ourselves "Grandmothers for Gilad Schalit".
I think the notion of active grandmothers should have appeal for publicity, and of course we will need to use the technology of the internet effectively. The first step is to hear from you, your reaction to this proposal. Then if there's a positive response we would have to meet to plan and to organize ourselves.
I look forward to hearing from you one way or another. You are each one of 24 grandmothers on my e-mail list.
my best to you all,
Sally Zerker
When I read Rabbi Friedberg's article in the CJN this past week calling on us all no longe to be silent about the barbaric treatment of Gilad Schalit I knew I had to do something.
Gilad Schalit has been held in "hell" by the Hamas in Gaza for more that four years. His torment began when Hamas terrorists abducted him from an Israeli army post, having previously killed his two comrades there. Hamas has kept Gilad Schalit completely isolated from the world, no letters, no family contact, not even permitting the Red Cross to visit him, although the organization claims it has attempted to do so on more than one occasion. This kind of deprivation is contrary to international law and a denial in the extreme of human rights.
What can we do about this? I believe we must make ourselves heard with the object of influencing major political leaders, especially Barack Obama, in the parts of the world where human rights are respected, to speak up, to pressure Hamas , to bring pressure on the other Palestinian leadership (Abas), and to make the case of Gilad Schalit a human rights issue.
How? Since I began to think of Gilad as a boy who could be my grandson--he was abducted when he was just 19 years of age--I suggest we form a body of concerned woman like me who are grandmothers, who feel as I do that we have a duty to defend and free Gilad Schalit. Hence, lets call ourselves "Grandmothers for Gilad Schalit".
I think the notion of active grandmothers should have appeal for publicity, and of course we will need to use the technology of the internet effectively. The first step is to hear from you, your reaction to this proposal. Then if there's a positive response we would have to meet to plan and to organize ourselves.
I look forward to hearing from you one way or another. You are each one of 24 grandmothers on my e-mail list.
my best to you all,
Sally Zerker
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