Letter to John Howard

Bob Birch is a member of the New South Wales Friends of Palestine. He sent the following letter to Prime Minister John Howard this week:
“Under your government’s new anti-terrorism laws an Australian citizen faces a jail term of between three and seven years for ‘communicating inciting messages directed…in support of Australia’s enemies’.

“This government aligns itself unequivocally with the policies and interests of the state of Israel. In doing so it chooses to ignore numerous United Nations resolutions calling upon the Zionist state to withdraw from territories illegally occupied since 1967.

“I am an Australian citizen. I am unequivocally committed to supporting the aspirations of the Palestinian people to regain their homeland, to compensation for stolen property and to the right of return of Palestinian refugees.

“I would prefer to see these ends achieved by non-violent, political means. However, I fully endorse the right of the Palestinian people to engage in armed resistance against a military occupation which has been in place for 38 years.

“If my views and actions are interpreted as communicating inciting messages directed in support of Australia’s enemies, then so be it.”

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