"Peace talks are a sham as long as Israel refuses to
discuss the construction of new housing units for
Jewish settlers throughout occupied East Jerusalem and
the rest of the West Bank," said David J. Kalbfleisch,
a Green congressional candidate in Illinois' 10th
district <http://www.electdav e.org>;. "Israel must
meet its obligations under U.N. security council
resolution 242."
Calling the Siege of Gaza an international emergency,
the Green Party is urging Congress to reject President
Bush's FY2009 budget request for $2.55 billion in
Foreign Military Financing for Israel, and reiterated
the call for a cut-off of all US military aid to
Israel.
"The Siege of Gaza is an ongoing atrocity, with
mounting civilian casualties, especially children,
killed and maimed by Israeli Defense Forces," said
Holly Hart, secretary of the Green Party of the United
States and member of People for Justice in Palestine,
responding to the mass killing of Palestinians during
the past weekend. "Greens are demanding an end to the
siege and to the occupation of Palestinian lands, to
Israel's collective punishment of Palestinians, and to
targeted assassinations, all of which violate
international law."
Greens noted that the death toll of Palestinians
killed by Israeli forces has doubled since the
Annapolis peace talks sponsored by the US in November
2007.
In some areas of the West Bank, home invasions by IDF since
January 1 have resulted in the kidnapping and
detention without charges of nearly 400 civilians,
including children. 1.5 million Gazans, mostly
refugees from Israel in 1948, live in an open-air
prison, unable to exit, and with electricity, fuel,
and water under Israeli control.
"Peace talks are a sham as long as Israel refuses to
discuss the construction of new housing units for
Jewish settlers throughout occupied East Jerusalem and
the rest of the West Bank," said David J. Kalbfleisch,
a Green congressional candidate in Illinois' 10th
district
U.N. security council resolution 242."
The Green Party has already called for an economic
boycott and divestment of Israel until the occupation
is ended and full human rights and equality are
realized throughout historic Palestine, including
Israel
Green leaders, emphasizing the need for popular
pressure on the US government similar to the campaign
against South African apartheid two decades ago, have
supported the efforts of Palestinian and Israeli peace
groups to seek negotiation and a halt to violence, and
are urging participation in the Palestine BDS
(Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) Campaign
The President's FY2009 request would enact a 9%
increase over 2007 spending, and would be the first
installment of a ten-year agreement between the US and
Israel, signed in August 2007, to increase military
aid by 25%, totaling $30 billion by FY2018.
The arms purchased through Foreign Military Financing
are being used to enforce Israel's 40-year military
occupation and siege of the Palestinian West Bank,
East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, and for violation
of human rights in the Occupied Territories and
against civilians in Lebanon. Such use of weapons
purchased with US money violates of the Arms Export
Control Act and Foreign Assistance Act.
"The Green Party has repeatedly called for an end to
Israel's illegal occupation, for enforcement of human
rights laws consistently violated by Israel, and for
an end to all attacks against unarmed civilians by
either side," said Justine McCabe, co-chair of the
party's International Committee.
"Under the influence of AIPAC and other pro-Israel
lobbies, John McCain, Hillary Clinton, and Barack
Obama have bent over backwards to support the Israel
government and avoid criticism -- even as Israel warns
that it may invade and Israeli Deputy Defense Minister
Matan Vilnai threatens Palestinians in the Gaza Strip
with a 'holocaust.' If the national debate on the
Middle East is restricted to Democratic and Republican
positions in 2008, the crisis and the atrocities will
continue regardless of who wins the White House," Dr.
McCabe added.
MORE INFORMATION
Green Party of the United States http://www.gp. org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
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