Jewish Voice for Peace Calls For Talks With New Palestinian Government

Jewish Voice for Peace Calls For Talks With New Palestinian Government

Contact: Mitchell Plitnick (510) 465-1777 (office)
                                          

Thursday, January 26, 2006 (Oakland, CA) - American peace group Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) called on the United States, Israel, the European Union and the incoming Palestinian Authority to move quickly toward serious negotiations to end Israel’s 38-year long occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem.

Hamas, the Islamic Resistance Movement, which has been responsible for many attacks against Israelis, both military and civilian, won the Palestinian elections, gathering 76 seats out of 132 in the new Palestinian Legislative Council, with the former ruling party, Fatah, the party of President Mahmoud Abbas and the late Yasir Arafat, managing only 43.

Hamas’ charter explicitly calls for the destruction of Israel and the establishment of an Islamic state in its place. Hamas’ charter also cites the anti-Semitic tract, “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion” as a basis for its view of Israel. The rise of Hamas is a matter of great concern to every Jewish group. But JVP’s stance is that this does not change the basic goal of a just peace, negotiated between Israelis and Palestinians that is viable and sustainable for both sides.

“Hamas has certainly committed horrible war crimes in the past,” said Mitchell Plitnick, JVP’s Director of Education and Policy. “So has Israel, and so has Fatah. We call on Hamas and on all parties to the conflict to renounce violence as a means to achieving their goals and aspirations. The only way the fighting will stop is if everyone agrees to substantive negotiations. It is no more acceptable for the Palestinian Authority to refuse to talk to Israel than it is for Israel or the US to refuse to talk with the legitimately elected representatives of the Palestinian people.

“While Hamas certainly has significant support among the Palestinian people, this vote was not an endorsement of violence or of religious fundamentalism,” Plitnick continued. “This election sent a clear message that the Palestinian people were tired of waiting for Fatah to deal with the corruption inside its own ranks and for Fatah to find a way to bring Israel back into serious negotiations. The unilateral strategy of the Sharon government certainly undermined faith in Fatah’s way of doing things. But corruption in the PA did even more damage, as did the internal divisions within Fatah.

“The Palestinian people have spoken. It is now time for the leaders of the new PA, Israel, the US, EU, Arab League and UN to speak as well and find the path to a just peace that everyone in the region deserves.”