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March 3, 2008 Contact: Rachel Pfeffer office 510-465-1777, rachel@jvp.org Cecilie Surasky office 510-465-1777, cecilie@jvp.org Jewish Voice for Peace condemns Israeli bombings Calls for end to humanitarian crisis in Gaza Agrees with Jewish Daily Forward, It’s time to talk to Hamas. [Oakland, March 3, 2008] Jewish Voice for Peace, one of the country's largest Jewish peace organizations, deplores the terrible loss of life in the latest escalation of violence in the Middle East, and reiterates that all parties must be held accountable to international law. However, Israel’s refusal to negotiate, despite repeated ceasefire offers from Hamas, and their use of overwhelming force against a civilian population, have escalated the situation to the point of war. Israel, like any other country, has the right and obligation to defend itself, and Palestinian militant rocket attacks on Sderot and Ashkelon are a clear violation of international law. But Israel's history of violating the human rights of Gazans long predates these rocket attacks. Now Israel has chosen to punish the entire civilian population of Gaza with a 4-month blockade of food, medical supplies and fuel, and more recently, to rain missiles down on the heads of an already desperately poor and malnourished population. Two Israeli soldiers and over 100 Gazans, one third of them children, have died in the last week alone. We at Jewish Voice for Peace support the conclusion of the groundbreaking editorial in the country’s most influential Jewish newspaper, The Jewish Daily Forward, which last week said, “a new consensus is emerging that Israel must talk to Hamas.” Indeed, it is clear there is no military solution. A lasting peace will only be reached through a negotiated settlement. We call on the U.S. government to urge Israel to negotiate with Hamas, and to facilitate an immediate mutual ceasefire and an end to the siege on Gaza. Further, we reiterate that lasting peace in the region will not be possible until the US pressures Israel to end its illegal 40-year occupation of Palestinian people and land. About Jewish Voice for Peace Founded in 1996, Jewish Voice for Peace is a national grassroots peace organization dedicated to promoting a US foreign policy in the Middle East based on peace, democracy, human rights and respect for international law. With some 20,000 supporters and members, JVP’s board of Jewish American and Israeli advisors includes Pulitzer and Tony award winner Tony Kushner, actor Ed Asner, poet Adrienne Rich as well as other respected rabbis, artists, scholars and activists. # # # # |
