As the situations in neighboring Iraq and Syria continue to deteriorate, the crisis in Palestine is also in a downward spiral. The most recent attack on Gaza by the Israeli regime, in which they declared that all Palestinians should evacuate Northern Gaza or be subject to an imminent bombing campaign, brings the long-standing plight of the Palestinian people into a new and deadlier stage. Despite Israeli claims that they are only targeting militants, the United Nations estimates that 77 percent of the deceased from the first six days of the attack are innocent civilians.
The Socialist Party USA has long condemned the Israeli occupation of Palestine, as well as the key role of the United States in financing the oppression of the Palestinian people. Our Platform specifically calls for an end to the occupation of Gaza, East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Golan Heights, along with an end to all United States aid to the Israeli government, as preconditions for peace. With the Israeli regime pushing for the complete annexation of Palestine, coupled with U.S.-financed missiles raining down on Gaza, this point in our Statement of Principles continues to be completely accurate.
As democratic socialists, we believe in the self determination of all people to collectively decide their own future. We continue to stand in support of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination in the occupied territories and the land recognized as the State of Israel. A permanent solution to the crisis in Palestine cannot be dictated or imposed by foreign governments, specifically the United States, that are looking to protect and expand their own interests. Instead, this solution must come from the Palestinian people themselves.
Until such a future can be secured, we will continue to stand in opposition to the apartheid policies and oppressive nature of the Israeli state. Our 2011 national convention officially endorsed the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which seeks to impose international pressure on the Israeli regime until the full liberation of the Palestinian people is realized. We continue to support this movement and any other outlet to defend the Palestinian cause.
We reject the false notion that the Israeli state is innocent and is simply defending itself against Palestinian aggression. As far as we and other people of conscience are concerned, the exact opposite is true.
I hav been very, very upset about the events in Gaza, enough so that I need to stay away from the Internet for a few days, since my being upset doesn’t really change things. I know it’s a complicated, emotional issue, but Israel is so huge and has such a good miliatary compared to Palestines’s military–oh wait, they don’t have one–that we’re going to continue to see civilians slaughtered I was pleased to find this article today:
http://countercurrentnews.com/2014/07/thousands-of-pro-peace-israelis-take-to-the-streets-in-protest/
Neither side is blameless, but there’s just gotta be a better way to settle this than what’s happening now.
“I apologize for besmirching the LP and the great staff and volunteers here at IPR.”
No apology necessary. You’re passionate. I appreciate passion.
I understand the sentiments of the post Nicholas Sarwark forwarded, but as far as I know US tax money is not being sent to Hamas, Islamic Jihad or the PFLP. And I do not know of any Fatah involvement in the current conflict. Billions of US tax dollars are going to the Israeli govt.
I apologize for besmirching the LP and the great staff and volunteers here at IPR.
I am no fan of Hamas or any religious nutters. And I do not think the Palestinians are better than Israelis. But US tax money is a major contribution to Israel’s strength, and colonization of Occupied Palestine.
I appreciate the additional IPR stories ofn the subject.
I apologize for my spellig as well – I’m using a handheld device, VoiceOver and a pinkie finger until my desktop gets fixed. A side note, even using this handheld phone I do not have any slowness in loading the vid heavy Open Thread as others have alleged to experience.
I’m not aware of the LP making an official statement about it, at least yet, but here is our national chair quoting the state chair of Georgia on FB:
Also, this from the Communist Party: http://cpusa.org/end-violence-and-oppression-negotiate-a-just-solution-to-israeli-palestinian-conflict/
If anybody knows of any others, email them to me at [email protected]
Personally I don’t see where the Palestinians are any more noble than Israel, or vice versa. Both sides are equally horrifying, and the U.S. needs to keep its nose out of this.
So the SPUSA is the only third party or independent campaign that has anything to say abt the Israeli govt’s…
Of course not. IPR has thus far published articles about reactions from the PSL, Greens, and FSP. There are, I am sure, others as well.
If there were not billions of US dollars in tax money going to help Israel I might not be quite so irate abt the situation.
Wow! Tell us how you REALLY feel, Deran! 😉
So the SPUSA is the only third party or independent campaign that has anything to say abt the Israeli govt’s war crimes and crimes against humanity they are committing rifht now in Occupied Palestine?
Gaza 350+ killed, mostly civillians, Israel 3 dead, 2 of whom are civillians.
I realize the LP studiously avoids this topic – despite the Israeli govt being the greatest recipient of US welfare/foreign aid. And I thought the LP was against foreign aid?
Or is this an IPR editorial policy?