[Sundaycommunity] Jill Andrew M.P.P. on Palestine & Israel

[Elizabeth Whelan]

Sharing this touching item that John Huot sent to the Taproot Community.
Peace,
Elizabeth

> On Oct 11, 2023, at 2:34 PM, John Huot <jdhuot at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Hi everyone,
> I found this statement by my M.P.P. spoke to the trauma of all affected by the events in Palestine. 
> I thought you might be touched by it also.
> John
> 
> 
> 
> 
>  
> Dear Community,
> As human beings - as adults, we are supposed to take care of and protect each other. Especially our beloved children and our elders. Whether they are our own or not, we should all, as a society, strive to protect the most vulnerable. We should shield them from harm, act towards them only with love and fairness, and when necessary, make decisions in their best interest. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, The United Nations Decade of Healthy Aging, and the United Nations Principles for Older Persons enshrines our collective responsibilities to these most precious souls.
> 
> The violent actions in Palestine and Israel have grossly failed the most vulnerable citizens. Decades of oppression and barbaric carnage, including these most recent nightmarish days and nights of heinous acts against humanity have seen the senseless murder of innocent civilians who had everything to live for. Jewish lives, Palestinian lives, the lives of innocent women, children, elders, and families brutally stripped away from their families and from their homes and countries. There is nothing to celebrate here. No win will ever come from these catastrophic murders.
> 
> Here in Toronto-St. Paul’s, and across our province, I know there are many Jewish and Palestinian community members who are left shattered, in search of their loved ones, all while trying to make sense of these preventable tragedies. But there is no sense-making in murder. Our most impacted communities are saddened beyond measure. They are angry. Many are exhausted, and the grief and the grieving is palpable. My heart hurts for those of you impacted, knowing our heavy hearts as non-Jewish and non-Palestinian onlookers is not enough. Jewish and Palestinian communities are desperate for peace and security here and back home. They deserve this, and we must do everything in our power to attain this peace and security.
> 
> As the provincial representative for my home community of St. Paul’s, I will continue to stand with all people in Israel and Palestine, and those with Israeli and Palestinian roots who now call St. Paul’s and Ontario home, who are deeply committed to peace and freedom.
> 
> Hamas’ actions must be condemned, as many Jewish people and Palestinians around the world have and continue to. Similarly, the Israeli occupation and continued displacement of Palestinians must be put to an end, as I know many in the Jewish community advocate for as a needed resolution to bring peace and security to the region. The two can, and must, co-exist and without threat of violence against either group in doing so.
> 
> We cannot allow these past days, or the years preceding this weekend's vile events, to further ignite antisemitism and anti-Palestinian racism here at home or abroad. We must not allow hate to divide our hearts. We must stay vigilant towards the only purposeful agenda; one of peace, security, and freedom for Palestinian and Israeli lives. No matter one's ethnicity, they must have the right to exist and live free of violence. We must find an end to this carnage and that will only come through centering peace, accountability, and a commitment to mutual self-determination. We must remain dedicated to upholding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
> 
> It is there to protect us and to help us protect each other.
> 
> In love and solidarity.
> Jill.
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