Greens call for an int'l peacekeeping body to enforce a Middle East ceasefire

Contacts:
Nancy Allen, Media Coordinator, 207-326-4576,
nallen@acadia.net
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624,
scottmclarty@yahoo.com

GREENS CALL FOR AN INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING
BODY TO ENFORCE A MIDDLE EAST CEASEFIRE

Green candidates for Congress urge a halt to the
spiraling violence and immediate action from Bush

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Green Party congressional
candidates have joined various
Israeli-Palestinian coalitions for peace in
demanding that the killings on both sides cease
and that Israel and Palestine agree to accept an
international peacekeeping body under the
auspices of the United Nations to be sent to the
occupied territories to enforce a halt to the
escalating retaliatory violence. At the same
time, all available channels of diplomatic
communication must be kept open in order for
negotiations for peace and the establishment of a
Palestinian state to advance.

"America's reluctance to propose an
internationally cooperative effort remains a
major obstacle to peace and stability in the
Middle East," said Richard Vikstrom, Illinois
candidate for U.S. Senate. "Greens in Israel and
the rest of the world have joined
Israeli-Palestinian peace organizations such as
Gush Shalom, [the Arab-Jewish political party]
Hadash, and [the women's peace group] Bat Shalom
in demanding that Israel's army stop attacks on
Palestinian civil authorities, that Palestinians
cease all political murders of Israeli civilians,
and that both peoples come together to disarm and
negotiate."

"The more Israel tries to suppress violence by
Palestinians through the use of military force,
the more many Palestinians -- already desperate
from decades of economic and political
suppression, displacement by settlers, and abuse
and murder by Israeli forces -- may be motivated
to commit suicidal attacks on Israeli civilians,"
said Charles Pillsbury, Green Party candidate for
Congress in Connecticut's 3rd District.

"If Sharon succeeds in isolating Arafat, we fear
the violence will only expand. Each attack on
Palestine, every bomb that Israel drops on a
refugee camp, results in more Palestinians
killing more Israelis, followed by more Israeli
attacks," Pillsbury added. "The invasion of
Ramallah won't bring Israel even temporary
security but new waves of death and destruction.
Arafat has pleaded for international help to
interrupt the spiraling violence. President Bush
must cease arming one side of the conflict
[Israel] and push for an international U.N.-led
peacekeeping force, or the atrocities will
escalate."

"Each side feels justified in using violence to
respond to the violence committed by the other
side," said Joseph Fortunato, candidate for New
Jersey Representative, 8th Congressional
District. "Greens support the right of Israel
and Palestine to a peaceful coexistence, and we
strongly oppose the decades-long violation of
Palestinian human rights in the occupied
territories by Israel, while condemning any and
all violence against civilians. Israel must end
its military aggression and leave the occupied
territories now. Its continued occupation of
Palestinian lands, in violation of international
law, is perpetuating the cycle of violence and
despair. We call for an immediate end to the
mayhem and demand that Israel must stand down
now."

"It's clear that the recent efforts by the Bush
administration to reduce the fighting are driven
by a desire to secure Arab support for a U.S.
military attack on Iraq, rather than to secure
permanent peace in the Palestinian-Israeli
conflict," said Dr. Jonathan Farley, Green
congressional candidate in Tennessee. In
November, Dr. Farley spoke at a Stop the War
rally in London that drew 100,000 people.

"There have been far too many victims on both
sides. Palestinian and Israeli children have been
slaughtered, ambulances carrying wounded
Palestinians shot at, Palestinians homes are
demolished and their towns and villages sealed
off," added Evergreen Chou, a candidate seeking
the Green Party's nomination for Representative
from Queens, New York. "U.S. foreign policy in
the Middle East has contributed to the violence.
It is time for the U.S. to stop its efforts which
have blocked peace in the Middle East. It is
clear that the Sharon and Arafat governments will
not be able to negotiate a peaceful settlement
without the intervention of the international
community."

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