Calling for an immediate suspension of all diplomatic and economic ties with Israel

Dear Editor,

This is a call for the government of Guyana to immediately suspend all diplomatic and economic ties with Israel in light of its current and ongoing violence against the people of Palestine. Please note- this is not to ignore or endorse hostility towards Israeli civilians; targeting civilians must always be condemned and avoided, no matter how righteous the cause. However, Israel’s reaction to the recent Hamas attack displays and blatant

violations of numerous international human rights laws and conventions. In addition to indiscriminately slaughtering hundreds of innocent Palestinians, bombing homes, the Zionist Israeli government has also cut off all food, water, fuel, and medicine to the over two million long-suffering residents of Gaza. Worldwide, peace and justice loving people have been speaking out against these genocidal actions and note is taken of the recent PPP statement calling for an end to this violence. 

However, there is much more that the Guyanese government can and should do to show true solidarity with the people of Palestine. First, would be to suspend diplomatic ties with the state of Israel. This would send a clear signal to Israel that its horrific violations of international human rights law are unacceptable and will not be condoned. In this struggle in the Middle East, Israel enjoys overwhelming support from numerous Western/European nations, many of whom have long histories of domination, land grabbing, exploitation, and genocide themselves, here in our Caribbean region. However, Guyana is becoming increasingly powerful and visible on the world stage; that power should be used in the service of justice, locally and globally, not for personal enrichment or aggrandizement.

Sincerely,

Sherlina Nageer