31Jul06

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International appeal for a quick cessation of hostilities in the Middle-East, a just peace, and no escalation of violence.

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Dear Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Israel, Ambassadors, and Foreign Ministers of the Security Council, and Leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah:

The undersigned individuals and organisations appeal to you to immediately cease hostilities in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip and to commence negotiations leading to a just diplomatic and political solution to the problems of the Middle East. We appeal to all parties in this crisis to abide by all UN resolutions, including Israel to leave occupied land and Hezbollah to be disarmed.

The pursuit of a military solution to problems created by an overwhelming perception of injustice to non-Israelis could result in Hezbollah actually being strengthened, with hostility to Israel vastly magnified. Moreover, this hostility is on the rise worldwide due to the massive bombing in Lebanon in which civilians are the vast majority of victims and the infrastructure of the country is being ruined. This is unacceptable to the world community. Condemnation is also directed to Hezbollah for directing missiles on towns and villages in Israel. Bombing and missiles on civilian targets creates a savage condition that guarantees increased hostility and hatred.

A project to destroy Hezbollah or other opposing forces by military means is unrealistic in the long-term, and most likely would achieve the opposite effect. Similarly, we urge leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah to understand that efforts to destroy the State of Israel cannot succeed, and statements to that effect must be ended if negotiations to end the conflict and improve the lives of people in the entire region are to succeed.

The current policies to address the problems in the Middle East are, in our view, terribly inadequate, mired in the past, and self-defeating. We urge you to cease hostilities immediately and to commence a process of negotiation towards a just solution, including the assurance that the Middle East becomes a nuclear weapons free zone. A rapid decision to proceed with diplomacy rather than force would be welcomed by the entire world community, and it could be an important milestone on the journey to liberation from the violence of the past and the present terror of modern weapons.

We urge you to seize this historic opportunity, and we look forward to your early response.

Signed:

• Pol D'Huyvetter, Friends of the Earth Flanders/For Mother Earth, Belgium
• Doug Mattern, Association of World Citizens, San Francisco, CA., USA
• Dr. Mary Wynne-Asford, Past Co-President, IPPNW
• Colin Archer Secretary-General International Peace Bureau, Geneva
• Bruce K. Gagnon Coordinator, Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space, Brunswick, USA
• Diane C. Beeny, Co-Chair, Hiroshima/Nagasaki Remembrance Committee, Westfield, New Jersey, USA
• Yumi Kikuchi, Founder, Global Peace Campaign
• Kinhide MUSHAKOJI, Vice Chair, International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IKADR), Tokyo, Japan
• Steve Leeper, Mayors for Peace
• Langeland Hallgeir MP, Norway
• Barbara Brädefors, Swedish Peace Committee, Stockholm, Sweden
• Bo Normander, The Social-Liberal Party, Denmark
• Ak Malten, Global Anti-Nuclear Alliance, The Hague, Netherlands
• Frank Slijper, Campagne tegen Wapenhandel (Dutch Campaign against Arms Trade), Groningen, Netherlands
• Antonia Macias, Equipo Nizkor, Belgium
• Prof. H. Firket, IPPNW Belgian branch, Liège, Belgium
• Jean-Marie Matagne, President of ACDN (Action des Citoyens pour le Désarmement Nucléaire), France
• Patrick Chapus, Association de Sauvegarde du Patrimoine et du Cadre de Vie dr Solerieux, France
• Joly Jacques, President of ADFE-Français du Monde of West Japan
• John Johansen-Berg, Chair, Fellowship of Reconciliation, Founder of the Community for Reconciliation, UK
• Peter Cadogan, London Alliance for Local Democracy
• Jill Stallard, National Secretary, CND Cymru, UK
• Anna Cheetham, Co-Chair, Leicester Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
• Michael Sackin, Leicester, UK Jews for Justice for Palestinians
• Angie Zelter, Reforest the Earth, UK
• Bob Ball, Leicester Green Party, Leicester, UK
• John Asher, Chair, Amnesty International Blackburn with Darwen Local Group, Yorks, UK
• Peter Cook, MP, Westminster
• Paul Flynn MP, Westminster
• Ansar Burney, Advocate / Chairman; Ansar Burney Trust International Karachi, Pakistan
• Wilfred Dcosta, General Secretary Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF), India
• Sukla Sen EKTA, Committee for Communal Amity, Mumbai, India
• Ammu Abraham Director, Women's Centre, Mumbai India
• Apoorv Anand, Reader, Department of Hindi, University of Delhi, Editor and Columnist, Delhi, India
• Amitadyuti Kumar, Association for the Protetion of Democratic Rights, Hoogly, West Bengal, India
• Shabnam Hashmi, Member, National Integration Council, India
• Fernando de Souza Barros, Emeritus Prof, University of Rio de Janeiro, Pugwash Council member, Brazil
• Rachel Moreno - Observatório da Mulher - Brazil
• Dr. Dina Lida Kinoshita, UNESCO Chair, Education for Peace, Human Rights, Democracy and Tolerance, Brazil
• Terry Crawford-Browne, Economists Allied For Arms Reduction--South Africa, Cape Town, South Africa
• Kim Hye-Jeong, Secretary General, KFEM-FoE Korea, South Korea
• Lee Yu Jin, Director, Green Korea United
• Eun-jin Park Korean Women's Environmental Network
• Marion Hancock, The Peace Foundation, Aotearoa/New Zealand
• John Hallam, Friends of the Earth Australia
• Irene Gale, Australian Peace Committee
• Doreen Borrow, South Coast Australian Peace Committee
• Cameron Schraner, People for Nuclear Disarmament NSW Australia
• Margaret Reynolds, Past President, United Nations Association of Australia
• Bishop Pat Power, Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn, NSW Australia
• Rita Sofea Warliegh, International Volunteers for Peace, Surry Hills, NSW
• Pauline Mitchell, Campaign for International Cooperation and Disarmament - CICD, Australia
• Project Safe/Com Narrogin/Fremantle, Western Australia
• The Anti Nuclear Alliance of WA
• Dean Jeffreys, Byron Bay Peace Group
• Rob Wesley-Smith, Australians for a Free East Timor, Darwin, NT, Australia
• Jo Errey, Marrickville Peace Group, NSW
• Nicola Paris, Fremantle Anti Nuclear Group (FANG)
• John Lesses, Treasurer, Greek Workers Educational Association of SA "Platon"
• Senator Lyn Allison, Australian Democrats
• Senator Andrew Bartlett, Australian Democrats
• Senator Natasha Stott- Despoja, Australian Democrats
• Senator Rachel Siewert, Greens, W.A.
• Jill Hall MHR
• Lee Rhiannon MLC Greens, NSW

Equipo Nizkor

Published online on 07Aug06 by Equipo Nizkor and Derechos Human Rights