Stop Taking Sides: Petition for Peace in Palestine
Published on Tuesday, April 16, 2002 by Common Dreams
If one did not read Common Dreams, one might not know it. But last Friday, Reuters reported, "Most Americans believe the United States should halt or reduce economic and military aid to Israel if Prime Minister Ariel Sharon does not immediately withdraw troops from Palestinian areas, according to a Time Magazine/CNN poll released on Friday." (See http://www.commondreams.org/headlines02/0412-06.htm.)
A search of the Time and CNN websites found no reports on this poll, which has been widely under-reported in the corporate media. …
Petition for Peace in Palestine
Dear Mr. President:
Israel deserves to exist in peace and the Palestinian people deserve their own country.
The Palestinian Authority and the Arab nations have recognized the right of Israel to exist.
But Israel has not pledged to withdraw completely from the West Bank and Gaza to allow the formation of a Palestinian state on those lands.
International law forbids Israel from keeping land that it seized during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, including the West Bank and Gaza.
The United States has thrown its weight behind Israel in the Middle East conflict, rather than adopting a balanced approach.
Israel is the largest recipient of United States foreign aid, including two billion dollars a year in military aid.
Israel, with the fourth largest military in the world, can protect itself against military conquest.
Israel could trade land for peace by agreeing to withdraw completely from the West Bank and Gaza and recognizing a Palestinian state on those lands.
Therefore, I urge you to:
Work as a neutral mediator in the conflict and stop taking sides with Israel.
Apply strong pressure on both sides to reject terrorism.
Tell Israel that the United States will stop sending military aid to Israel unless Israel withdraws completely from the West Bank and Gaza.
Offer substantial aid to assist economic development for both countries once peace is established.
5) Support sending international monitors or peacekeepers to the region.
Signed by 475 individuals