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NAIVETE AND SINCERITY
MID-EAST REALITIES - www.MiddleEast.Org - Washington - 10/30:
Today in Ramallah on the West Bank in what certainly has to be called Occupied
and Besieged Palestine, a group of about 100 American citizens, most Arab Americans,
gathered to hold a kind of peoples's press conference. Though some American
reporters were present, it's not likely this is going to be widely reported,
and the people involved are certainly not media professionals nor politically
sophisticated.
The following information was released at the press conference, including
a Statement from a 16-year old American from Toledo, Ohio, now living in Tulkarem,
Palestine, who was prevented from attending by the Israeli occupation forces.
There's a lot of naivete here...including that the young American/Palestine
doesn't realize that the "Seeds of Peace" organization was in fact specifically
established by Zionist organizations and the Israeli/Jewish lobby precisely to
promote the Oslo peace formula that the Israelis and Americans have been working
so hard to force Arafat to sign. But even so there is also a lot of sincerity
and heartfelt honesty here, and the following should be read and considered in
that context:
U.S. CITIZENS IN PALESTINE VOICE THEIR CONCERNS
WHY IS OUR GOVERNMENT SUPPORTING BRUTAL OCCUPATION?
October 30 - Ramallah: In a press conference held today in Ramallah, approximately
100 U.S. citizens gathered at the Friends Boys School to express their deep concern
over the continuing carnage in Palestine and the failure of the U.S. government
to take a just stance in the Israel/Palestinian conflict. The group called on
the United States to live up to its role as an "honest broker" in peace efforts
and to uphold the principles of justice, liberty and human rights that America
stands for.
Among the concerns that were raised by the participants at the press conference
include: the terrorization of Palestinian civilians and disregard for human rights
by the Israeli military, the lack of balance in U.S actions and statements, and
America's role in supporting the military occupation without insisting on compliance
with international law governing occupation. Also brought to light was the failure
of the U.S. Consulate to be responsive to the needs of Arab Americans living
in the occupied territories. One woman related that her son, a U.S. citizen
visiting in Palestine, was arrested and tortured by Israeli forces on his way
to the neighborhood grocery store. "He has been held for over a month now without
charge." Palestinian American school children sent a message to their peers
in the U.S., "while you're going to parties and preparing for homecoming, we're
hiding from missiles and bullets," said 16 year old Saed Atshan. Media bias and
general mischaracterization of the conflict and the current crises were also
mentioned.
"It is wrong for the United States to support continued military occupation and
the use of brutal force by Israel against Palestinian civilians. We call on our
government to take decisive steps towards ensuring compliance with international
and humanitarian law and to play a vital role in bringing an immediate end to
Israel's occupation of the Palestinian people" said spokesman Mohammad Abdrabbo.
-------------------
STATEMENT FROM
AMERICANS ABROAD CONCERNED OVER U.S. ROLE IN ISRAEL/PALESTINIAN CONFLICT
October 30, 2000
We are U.S. citizens, living in occupied Jerusalem, West Bank and Gaza Strip,
outraged over the continuing carnage in Palestine, which so far has resulted
in the death of at least 130 Palestinians, 4 Palestinian security officers, one
Israeli civilian, and 6 Israeli soldiers. No less than 6000 Palestinian civilians
lie injured. 30% of the Palestinian casualties are children 18 years of age
and under.
We deplore the failure of our government to condemn the use of lethal weaponry,
including missiles, helicopter gunships, rubber-coated steel bullets, live ammunition,
heavy machine gunfire, exploding dum-dum bullets, and linked 40mm grenade launchers
by Israeli troops, against Palestinian civilians. Many of us have watched as
American-made attack helicopters have been used to bomb Palestinian residential
areas, including in our own neighborhoods.
We condemn the unilateral actions and statements of our Administration, Congress
and candidates for public office, which contradict the U.S. government's position
as an "honest broker" in peace efforts. We specifically denounce the U.S. Congress'
passage of Resolution 426, placing the blame for the current violence entirely
on the Palestinian leadership, and the U.S. Administration's plans to push for
additional military aid to Israel.
We regret our government's decision to close its embassies in the Arab world.
We are concerned about the growing alienation on the popular level in the Arab
world due to the perception of lack of balance in U.S, policy.
We call on the Administration to immediately implement the following:
1. Protection for Palestinian Civilians: Take the lead in providing international
protection for Palestinian civilians, particularly in the areas of conflict and
flash points.
2. International Inquiry: Support the demand for an immediate international
inquiry
into the root causes of the conflict, as called for in UN Resolution 1322, and
support the immediate implementation of the resolution.
3. Humanitarian Assistance: Help ensure that international emergency aid,
including
medical supplies and foodstuffs, reach the Palestinian people.
4. Palestinian Rights: Reaffirm and strengthen President Clinton's statement
in Gaza supporting Palestinian inalienable rights for self-determination in the
same manner that he has recently supported the Kosovar people in their fight
for freedom.
5. Arms Shipments: Suspend arms shipments to Israel in light of the use of U.S.
supplied weapons against Palestinian civilians, a violation of the U.S. Arms
Export Control Act.
6. Foreign Aid: Halt the transfer of U.S. taxpayer money to Israel, currently
in the amount of 6 billion dollars per year, for as long as Israel remains in
violation of UN Resolutions and international law.
We are currently witnessing some of the worst violence this region has ever seen.
Our homes and businesses are being attacked by the Israeli military on a daily
basis. Our children live in terror as a result of these on-going attacks The
United States has the power to facilitate an immediate end to the illegal Israeli
occupation. Too many US tax dollars, too many lives, too much injustice to the
Palestinian people, and too much suffering and waste should make the events of
the last one month the final wake up call. The time has come for the United States
to place itself on the right side of history in this 50+ year conflict. We expect
our government to stand up for the justice, liberty and human rights that America
stands for..
STATEMENT BY 16-YEAR OLD PALESTINIAN-AMERICAN
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. These are the basic constitutional
rights of every U.S citizen. I'm proud to be a part of such a free and fair
system of democracy. In my studies I've learned how in the past the U.S. has
supported and defended the rights of other countries that have strived to attain
a similar system of democracy, granting their citizens not only democratic rights
but also basic human rights as well.
Given the United States past reputation as defender of the oppressed peoples
of the world, I am dismayed and ashamed at its recent policy concerning the crisis
in Palestine. I fail to understand why my government continues to support the
Israeli occupation of the Palestinian people; an occupation that has been over
and over again labeled illegal by the United Nations. The U.S. supplies large
amounts of aid to Israel which enables them to build more and more settlements
on Palestinian land and often around and in-between Palestinian cities. This
causes points of friction between Palestinians, Israeli settlers and of course
their "protectors" the IDF who are a constant and threatening presence on our
land. Also, the U.S provides weapons to Israel without holding them accountable
for how these weapons are being used, for example on unarmed Palestinian youths,
or on civilian targets. Also, Israel is being supplied with banned weapons such
as nerve gas and exploding bullets. By ignoring international policy and opinion
of Israeli violence, brutality and excessive force the U.S. Government has become
an accessory after the fact.
I must also mention how very disappointed I am with the U.S media for its poor
and unjust job of reporting on the current and ongoing crisis in the region.
It seems to me that a country with such enormous rights of freedom of speech
and freedom of the press should be more conscientious and fair to the defenseless
and terrorized Palestinians. Instead, most reports are biased, racist, and totally
slanted against the Palestinian people, the Palestinian Authority and Islam in
general.
This summer I took part in a program which brings Israeli and Palestinian youth
together, called Seeds of Peace. My counselor told me that President Clinton
made special mention of Seeds of Peace just a few days ago. In Seeds of Peace
we sit together with Israelis to discuss and even argue about many things. Part
of what makes our meetings successful is the presence of neutral facilitators,
counselors and staff. I strongly believe that the United States should play
a similar neutral role when trying to facilitate between the Israelis and Palestinians.
I can't imagine that if the SOP staff were biased towards the Israelis that
I would want to attend anymore since I'd feel that the chips were stacked against
me as a Palestinian. In this case, not only are the chips stacked against me,
but my American government's guns are pointed at me.
Thank you for your kind attention.
Jamal AbuZant
Tulkarem, Palestine
Toledo, Ohio USA
MiD-EasT RealitieS - www.MiddleEast.Org
Phone: 202 362-5266 Fax: 815 366-0800
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