A press release from the Green Party of Pennsylvania:
HARRISBURG, PA — The Green Party of Pennsylvania (GPPA) condemns Israel’s
attacks on Gaza, which have wounded thousands, killed at least 1100,
including women and children, and which are unjustifiable acts of
aggression. GPPA joins much of the world in welcoming the recent cease fire,
but that is not enough. GPPA calls for an end to the siege of Gaza, and a
long-term peace.
As a step toward ensuring such a peace, the Green Party of Pennsylvania
urgently calls on President Obama to immediately send the U.S. Agency for
International Development (USAID) directly into Gaza. The USAID workers
would be unarmed, and would supply massive amounts of food and medicine for
immediate relief to the distressed residents of Gaza. They would also
finance and direct long-term reconstruction in Gaza. To ensure a cessation
of hostilities, GPPA asks the President to make clear that any attack on
Gaza while American aid workers are operating there would be considered an
attack on the United States.
In conjunction with the USAID effort, the United States should require a
complete withdrawal of Israeli personnel from Gaza and not tolerate any
Israeli control over Gaza’s coastline or airspace. Egypt, which for thirty
years had been the second largest recipient of American aid next to Israel,
should be strongly encouraged to keep its border with Gaza open.
This initiative would provide an immediate peace and serve as a foundation
for later policies aimed at a long-term regional peace and political and
economic self-determination for the Palestinian people.
The Green Party of Pennsylvania also encourages the Green Party of the
United States (GPUS) and other Green Parties to advocate for USAID
intervention in Gaza as a means of achieving peace there.
As part of its larger position on Gaza, GPPA condemns Israel’s January 16
shelling of a U.N. hospital, school, media building, and administrative
facility in Gaza. That attack destroyed thousands of tons of food and
humanitarian relief supplies. The attack was allegedly perpetrated with
white phosphorous explosives. The use of White Phosphorous against human
targets is banned by international treaty. The United Nations must be
allowed to provide humanitarian relief to Gaza.
GPPA also condemns the December 30 Israeli gunboat attack
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/30/israel-gaza-aid-ship) on Green
Party 2008 U.S. Presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney who was sailing to
Gaza on a humanitarian aid mission.
Greens note that Hamas, the target of Israel’s aerial bombardment, was
democratically elected in 2006, and that Israel and the US have been trying
to remove Hamas from power, especially by attempting to spark a civil war
between Hamas and Fatah. Since its election, Hamas has repeatedly offered to
talk with Israel, but Israel has rejected all such overtures. Hamas had
observed a five-month truce that was broken on November 4 when Israeli
Defense Forces killed five Palestinians. In retaliation, Hamas responded
with missiles which over the last month have injured one Israeli and caused
property damage. The Green Party categorically condemns all violence visited
on unarmed civilians, and encourages all parties in conflict to find and
pursue peaceful and socially just ways of resolving their disagreements.
The Green Party of Pennsylvania recognizes that the U.S. Congress and Bush
administration bear some responsibility for the attacks on Gaza, having in
effect supported Israel’s attack. GPPA calls on the U.S. government to take
a strong diplomatic position against Israel’s violence. Greens have
expressed concern that Barack Obama will bow to demands from AIPAC and other
pro-Israel lobbies and maintain the Clinton and Bush administrations’
uncritical support for Israel’s military objectives and human rights
violations, and advise him in the strongest terms to resist that pressure.
The Green Party of Pennsylvania restates its call for an end to US military
aid to Israel and support of the movement for international boycott,
divestment, and sanctions against Israel until Israel ends the occupation,
obeys international law (including Geneva Conventions and the UN’s Universal
Declaration of Human Rights), and guarantees full human rights for
Palestinians. This is a way in which people can do something to deter future
violence. The party supports efforts by Palestinian and Israeli peace groups
towards a nonviolent negotiated resolution to the conflict.
GPPA salutes Gush Shalom and the many other Israeli Peace Groups that are
risking their safety by protesting the violence of Israel against the
Palestinians. GPPA feels that all Israelis in jail for protesting should be
released. Political protest cannot and must not be a crime in a democracy,
and Israel is supposed to be a democracy.
GPPA believes that Israel (and perhaps the United States) should pay
restitution to the victims of the attacks on Gaza, that the acts should be
investigated as likely war crimes, and if warranted, those responsible
should be face trial in international court on war crimes charges.
The Green Party also endorses complete regional (and, ultimately, global)
nuclear disarmament to remove the threat of a nuclear exchange in the Middle
East and Asia.
GPPA encourages citizens to contact their Congressional Representative, U.S.
Senator, and the Obama White House in support of U.S. action to prevent
further Iraqi violence against Gaza.
Green Party of the United States Press Release, “Israel-Palestine truce must
include end of Israeli occupation and observance of international law or
violence is likely to resume”
Finally something good from them.