Take Action NOW: Stop the Israeli Assault on Gaza

by Charles Lenchner · 2008-12-27 11:13:00 UTC
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So far today, more than 200 Gazans have been killed in Israeli air strikes. The European Union is calling for "all sides to halt the violence. The Arab League is denouncing this action as a massacre. The U.S. is merely asking that Israel "avoid civilian casualties."

Israel is preparing it's PR troops to defend the assault, while pro-Palestinian extremists minimize the impact of repeated rocket attacks.

Supporters of peace are taking action as well - writing letters to the editor to ensure that voices of solidarity with the people of Gaza are heard far and wide.

Talking points:

  • Israel has failed to take advantage of numerous openings for peace in recent months. These range from broader support for the Arab Peace Initiative to Hamas' offer to negotiate a long term truce.

  • While allowing the peace track to freeze, Israel continued its immoral seige of Gaza, expanded settlements, demolished homes in occupied East Jerusalem, as all the while it maintains the daily violence and humiliation of occupation.

  • The rockets unleashed against Israeli civilians are indeed criminal, terroristic actions. Hamas, along with other extreme Palestinian factions, shares the blame for what is happening today. That being said, most countries understand that Palestinian extremist violence is a response to being locked up in a cage and pushed off the stage. Israel's efforts are increasingly in the direction of "managing the conflict" as opposed to "resolving the conflict." The bully's taunting provocations (Israeli seige and occupation) have the effect of enraging the victim (the Palestinians) leading them to self-destructive acts of violence in return. As the stronger party, Israel must be held accountable by the international community.

Peace activists need to confront the likely barrage of "understanding for Israel's position" with a wave of revulsion at the bloodletting. We should be demanding that Israel stop serving in the role of jailer and occupier. At the same time, the peace community needs to do a better job of opposing the Hamas strategy of rockets aimed at Israeli civilians.

Please take action now.

Charles Lenchner
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