June 25, 2007

THE NEAR EAST CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION OF CANADA

CALL FOR EMERGENCY  FUND RAISING BY NECEF FOR  GAZA-  JUNE 25, 2007

c/o Dr. Sameh Gabarin
201-3300 Yonge St.
Toronto, ON   M4N 2L6  (necef.canada@gmail.com)
Charity BIN/Registration No.: 119246742RR0001

NECEF President the Reverend Robert Assaly arrived in Jerusalem last week and has spoken to our partner, the NECC in Gaza. The situation there is desperate. NECC has published a rare emergency appeal. Robert Assaly has already received an invitation to Gaza from the NECC.Israel must issue a permit. If they do so, he will visit this week and report.


Aid agencies are warning of a major humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Since Hamas took control this month Gazans have become more isolated than ever as Israel has cut off access to Gaza through the Karni crossing. The UN”s world food programme has said  that Gaza could start running out of flour, rice, food, oil and other commodities under  two weeks unless Israel opens the crossing.


Israel wants to isolate Gaza's Hamas Islamists economically, diplomatically and militarily, while allowing funds and trade to flow to the Western-backed emergency government set up in the West Bank by President Mahmoud Abbas.  Palestinian political divisions have been aggravated by the failure of western nations to support the results of “free and fair” 2006 elections which brought Hamas to power. Ironically, while these elections were officially observed by Canada and Palestinians cast their votes in Canadian made ballot boxes, the Canadian government was the first to stoke the fires of the current troubles, when, displeased with the election results, it cut off funds to the Palestinian Authority and refused to support the national unity government.  In this they were encouraged by Israel; the U.S. and Britain quickly followed.


NECEF must respond to the people of Gaza at this critical time with an expression of solidarity. In so doing, we take full account of the following:


·                    The humanitarian situation in Gaza, one of the most densely populated places on earth and home to 1.4 million Palestinians, is of deep concern. The United Nations estimates that 88% of Gazans live below the poverty line, with nearly 50% of the population consisting of children.


·                    There is a growing fear that Israel will take advantage of the unsettled political situation to discredit Hamas by depriving Gazans of humanitarian aid.


·                    The Government of Canada has supported "aid" to Palestinians by contributing to the Karni crossing on the Israeli side, a thinly disguised diversion of Palestinian aid to the Israeli wall equivalent in Gaza.


·                    Last week the Canadian government cast the lone vote at the U.N. Human Rights Council against the annual resolution on Palestinian rights (the U.S. does not have a seat).  


If you are able to donate any amount, PLEASE SEND YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO NECEF AT THE ABOVE ADDRESS. 100% of all donations, for which we will issue a tax receipt, will become aid distributed in Gaza. There are no administrative costs charged to these donations. Even if you cannot contribute please send us your email so we can contact you more easily another time.


Let us rally together to stand in solidarity with Gazans in the face of Canada's official partisan and inhumane response to their suffering. Let us offer an alternate voice from Canada, a token of our desire for a just peace.


NECEF Executive Board:

Dr. Federico Allodi, Chair

The Reverend Robert Assaly, President

Dr. Marion Boulby, Vice President

Dr. Sameh Gabarin

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