[GPCA Updates] GP RELEASE Israel-Palestine truce must include end of occupation, say Greens

[Green Party of California Updates]

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GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Monday, January 19, 2009


Green Party: Israel-Palestine truce must include end of Israeli
occupation and observance of international law or violence is likely
to resume

• Mounting Israeli atrocities require immediate US pressure on Israel,
say Greens in a challenge to President-elect Obama

• The key to peace: ensuring democracy, equality, and human rights for
all in Israel-Palestine


WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party leaders said today that President Obama
must press Israel to end the occupation as part of any lasting truce
in the siege of Gaza.

"For a truce to hold, Israel must not only end the siege of Gaza but
also take steps to end the occupation of Palestinian lands, obey
international law, and ensure the safety of every Palestinian and
Israeli civilians.  But Israel is unlikely to take these steps without
pressure from the US.  President Obama, after his inauguration, has
the power to persuade Israel to abandon its military goals and
guarantee human rights and equality," said Hajja Romi Elnagar, a
member of the Green Party of Louisiana.

The Green Party has called for a halt in US military assistance to
Israel.  The party also urges boycott and divestment until Israel
observes international law, ends the illegal 42-year occupation and
systematic destruction of Palestinian civil society, and abolishes its
apartheid-like system within Israel as well as in the occupied
territories (http://www.gp.org/press/pr_2005_11_28.shtml).

Greens noted that Israel has barred Palestinian-Israeli candidates
from upcoming elections because their parties opposed the Gaza
operation and advocate changing Israel from a Jewish state to a state
for all its citizens.  Over 20% of Israel's population are non-Jews.

"The main burden of any ceasefire must fall on Israel, a nuclear power
with one of the most powerful armies in the world that has enjoyed
billions in aid from the US.  Over 1,200 Palestinians have been killed
in the Gaza invasion from bombings in heavily populated areas that
have hit civilian buildings.  Under two dozen Israelis have been
killed, most of whom are soldiers.  Israel has subjected Palestinian
areas to concentration-camp conditions and daily brutality, bulldozed
homes and farms, and evicted Palestinians to make way for Israeli
Jewish settlers," said Rosa Clemente, the Green Party's 2008 candidate
for Vice President of the United States (http://www.rosaclemente.com).

Greens pointed to reports that the Israeli Defense Force is using
illegal white phosphorus bombs in Gaza.and is testing experimental US
weapons systems in the assault ("Is Israel Using Illegal Weapons in
Its Offensive on Gaza? by Amira Hass, Ha'aretz, January 16,
http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1055927.html).  The IDF has dropped
bombs on civilian targets  (including a UN school, shelters, and
supply storage centers) despite the fact that it was given coordinates
to their locations to prevent such strikes
(http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1056258.html).

Israel has also blocked journalists, human rights organizations, food
deliveries, medical personnel, and medical supplies from entering
Gaza, cut off water and electricity, and bombed a sewage plant.  2008
Green presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney participated in an
effort to deliver medical supplies until the delivery boat she was
traveling on was surrounded by Israeli gunboats and rammed by one of
them (http://www.gp.org/cynthia/index.shtml).

The Green Party of the United States supports an immediate
UN-sponsored, multinational peacekeeping force to protect civilians
and to oversee implementation of all UN resolutions and the
dismantling of the occupation
(http://www.gp.org/platform/2004/democracy.html#307394).

"The worst that Barack Obama can do is to maintain the Middle East
policies of previous Democratic and Republican administrations.  If
Mr. Obama embraces the rule of international law and redirects funding
from aid to Israel to support for a peacekeeping force, ensuring the
provision of medical and other supplies to the occupied Palestinian
territories, and rebuilding Palestinian infrastructure, he'll go down
in history as a peacemaker," said Jill Bussiere, co-chair of the Green
Party of the United States.


MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193

• Tally of Green election victories
http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/election-results.html
• Green candidate news http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/candidate-news.php
• Green candidate database for 2008 and other campaign information:
http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
• Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
• Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
• Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections


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