Mr. Speaker, in the interests of peace and justice, for Israelis and Palestinians alike, the United Nations has decided to send a fact finding mission on site to find out what really happed in Jenin.
According to Secretary of State Colin Powell, this mission is in the best interests of Israel and of all those concerned about the current situation in the Middle East.
Israel, which had originally agreed to an international fact finding mission, is now expressing serious reservations about its composition and mandate. On Sunday, the Sharon government again categorically refused to give the mission a green light.
The situation in the Middle East is still just as volatile, and this umpteenth delay of the fact finding mission is far from calming matters. We therefore urge the Canadian government to add its voice to that of the UN secretary general and all those who believe in peace and justice, and to make clear to Israeli authorities the urgent immediate need for the UN fact finding mission.