Alesch, Greens call the 60th anniversary of Israel an occasion to affirm international law, enact human rights, and end the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories
May 19, 2008
WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party leaders urged the White House and Congress to recognize the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Israel as an occasion to press for long overdue human rights and equality for all Israelis, including Arabs and Muslims, and an end to the illegal occupation of Palestinian lands.
"The 60th birthday of Israel is also the 60th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba," said Dr. Justine McCabe, co-chair of the International Committee of the Green Party of the United States. "Its founding was based on the ethnic cleansing of the native Muslim and Christian populations. Because of this formative injustice, instead of becoming a haven for Jews, Palestine-Israel remains insecure for all those living there. Peace in the Middle East depends on recognizing this historical injustice and taking steps to reverse it. It means ensuring full equality, human rights, and democracy regardless of religion or ethnicity, and it means withdrawingIsraeli forces from the occupied territories."
The Green Party has called for a cutoff of US military aid and a general economic boycott until Israel complies with UN directives demanding observance of human rights and an end to the occupation, displacement, and brutal treatment of Palestinians. The Green Party also supports the Palestinian right of return.
"At over 6 million, Palestinian refugees constitute the oldest and largest refugee population awaiting a resolution," said Steve Alesch, Green Party Nominee for Congress in Illinois (District 13). "2008 also marks the 60th anniversary of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 13 of which recognizes the right to leave one's country and return home. It establishes this right of return for all refugees to return home, regardless of how a conflict began."
(See "Why does the Green Party in the U.S. support Palestinians' Right of Return?", position paper by the Green Party's International Committee, http://www.gp.org/committees/intl/response_on_palestine.html)
Greens warned that uncritical support for Israel by Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John McCain, under the influence of AIPAC and other lobbies, and their rejection of talks with the democratically elected Palestinian government indicate a lack of seriousness about resolving the Middle East conflict.
Republican and Democratic administrations have made the US a dishonest broker in any peace deal, said Greens, who pointed to the recent revelation of President Bush's 2004 letter to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon endorsing the expansion and retention of Israeli Jewish settlements in the West Bank ("Israelis Claim Secret Agreement With US," The Washington Post, April 24, 2008).
Party leaders also condemned Sen. Clinton's threat to "obliterate" Iran if it should attack Israel with nuclear weapons; Iran does not possess nuclear weapons, while Israel does.
"Resolving the Israel-Palestine conflict is essential to healing the rift between the West and Muslim nations and establishing global security," said John Wages, Green candidate for Congress in Mississippi's First District (www.votejohnwages.com). "Peace will be achieved through nonviolent means -- negotiation, affirmation of universal human rights, democratic self-determination for both Israelis and Palestinians, and respect for international law -- not through threats, terror, and military assaults."
"Greens have called for the one-state solution to be placed on the table. The two-state option is increasingly unfeasible, because the Israeli government, through the occupation, settlements, displacement of Palestinians, and destruction of infrastructure, has made it more difficult for an independent Palestinian state to emerge. The secular one-state solution may be the only one that can assure real political equality, democracy, and freedom for everyone in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories," added Mr. Wages.
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