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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Green
Party congressional candidates have joined various Israeli-Palestinian
coalitions for peace in demanding that the killings on both sides cease
and that Israel and Palestine agree to accept an international
peacekeeping body under the auspices of the United Nations to be sent to
the occupied territories to enforce a halt to the escalating retaliatory
violence. At the same time, all available channels of diplomatic
communication must be kept open in order for negotiations for peace and
the establishment of a Palestinian state to advance.
"America's reluctance to propose an internationally cooperative
effort remains a major obstacle to peace and stability in the Middle
East," said Richard Vikstrom, Illinois candidate for U.S. Senate.
"Greens in Israel and the rest of the world have joined
Israeli-Palestinian peace organizations such as Gush Shalom, [the
Arab-Jewish political party] Hadash, and [the women's peace group] Bat
Shalom in demanding that Israel's army stop attacks on Palestinian civil
authorities, that Palestinians cease all political murders of Israeli
civilians, and that both peoples come together to disarm and
negotiate."
"The more Israel tries to suppress violence by Palestinians through
the use of military force, the more many Palestinians -- already
desperate from decades of economic and political suppression,
displacement by settlers, and abuse and murder by Israeli forces -- may
be motivated to commit suicidal attacks on Israeli civilians," said
Charles Pillsbury, Green Party candidate for Congress in Connecticut's
3rd District.
"If Sharon succeeds in isolating Arafat, we fear the violence will
only expand. Each attack on Palestine, every bomb that Israel drops on a
refugee camp, results in more Palestinians killing more Israelis,
followed by more Israeli attacks," Pillsbury added. "The
invasion of Ramallah won't bring Israel even temporary security but new
waves of death and destruction. Arafat has pleaded for international
help to interrupt the spiraling violence. President Bush must cease
arming one side of the conflict [Israel] and push for an international
U.N.-led peacekeeping force, or the atrocities will escalate."
"Each side feels justified in using violence to respond to the
violence committed by the other side," said Joseph Fortunato,
candidate for New Jersey Representative, 8th Congressional District.
"Greens support the right of Israel and Palestine to a peaceful
coexistence, and we strongly oppose the decades-long violation of
Palestinian human rights in the occupied territories by Israel, while
condemning any and all violence against civilians. Israel must end its
military aggression and leave the occupied territories now. Its
continued occupation of Palestinian lands, in violation of international
law, is perpetuating the cycle of violence and despair. We call for an
immediate end to the mayhem and demand that Israel must stand down
now."
"It's clear that the recent efforts by the Bush administration to
reduce the fighting are driven by a desire to secure Arab support for a
U.S. military attack on Iraq, rather than to secure permanent peace in
the Palestinian-Israeli conflict," said Dr. Jonathan Farley, Green
congressional candidate in Tennessee. In November, Dr. Farley spoke at a
Stop the War rally in London that drew 100,000 people.
"There have been far too many victims on both sides. Palestinian
and Israeli children have been slaughtered, ambulances carrying wounded
Palestinians shot at, Palestinians homes are demolished and their towns
and villages sealed off," added Evergreen Chou, a candidate seeking
the Green Party's nomination for Representative from Queens, New York.
"U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East has contributed to the
violence. It is time for the U.S. to stop its efforts which have blocked
peace in the Middle East. It is clear that the Sharon and Arafat
governments will not be able to negotiate a peaceful settlement without
the intervention of the international community."
Contacts:
Nancy Allen, Media Coordinator, 207-326-4576, nallen@acadia.net
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, scottmclarty@yahoo.com
More Information:
The Green Party of the United States
http://gpus.org & http://www.gp.org
Green Party candidates in 2002 http://www.gp.org/patience.html
Israeli-Palestinian coalitions and other organizations for peace:
Gush Shalom http://www.gush-shalom.org
Coalition of Women for Peace http://www.coalitionofwomen4peace.org
Bat Shalom http://www.batshalom.org
Women in Black http://www.igc.org/balkans/wib/
New Profile http://www.newprofile.org
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