CONVOCATION 31 MAY 2009: MAY HOPE IN PALESTINE AND ISRAEL NOT BE SILENCED

Let us expel war and violence
from history
and from our lives

…………………………………………………………………….

Numerous civil organizations and anonymous persons in Palestine and Israel go forward in the search for justice and reconciliation; nevertheless their voices are systematically silenced. In some of these groups as a principle, they work together, Palestinians and Israelis, suffering the control and lack of understanding of both societies and their officials.

One of the most celebrated examples of nonviolent resistance in Palestine is that of the town of Bil’In, which struggles against the occupation of their lands and the blockade of the Wall, with the participation of Israeli and international accompaniment. Other Palestinian towns of the West Bank proceed in the same pacific manner: Beit Likia, Ni’lin, Ma’asana, Beit Lehem, Jaaus. This resistance has paid a high price with several Palestinian and international activists assassinated by the Israeli army. In addition, since the recent attacks on Gaza, they continue to suffer nocturnal armed invasions of the Israeli army, which result in additional people wounded, terror and destruction in a clear strategy of harassment towards all activities for peace.

The powerful Sate apparatus of Israel also acts against its own citizens, undermining their rights and exercising iron control to impede any objection to their militaristic policy of war against Palestine. We denounce the detention of 200 pacifists during the bombardment of Gaza; the confiscation in May of the computers of the feminist anti-militarist group New Profile and the group named Target 21, who work regarding conscientious objection; the detention of members of the Coalition of Women for Peace and the recent detention of other long-time Israeli pacifists.

We ask of the Government of Israel
♀ To cease the occupation and policy of violence against the Palestinian people.
♀ Justice for all the acts of violence and war that the State of Israel has developed against Palestine and against its own civil society.
♀ A stop to the harassment, persecution and criminalization of the nonviolent Palestinian resistance.
♀ Recognition of the citizens’ right to disagree with their policy and a stop to the persecution and stigmatizing of the Israeli pacifists.
♀ Respect of the Israeli and Palestinian authorities for the peace initiatives of the civil society.

We ask the Government of Spain and the European Union for
♀ Support, protection and recognition for the civil nonviolent resistance movement in Israel and Palestine.
♀ Revocation of the military treaty with Israel.
♀ International justice – that the policy of violence of the Israeli Government and violation of international treaties not remain in impunity.

In commemoration of the International Day of Women for Peace and Disarmament, we also ask for the immediate liberation of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Traslater Trisha Novak (USA)