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."


MORE INFORMATION

The Green Party of the United States
http://gpus.org
http://www.greenpartyus.org

Index of Green Party candidates in 2002
http://www.greens.org/elections

Poudre Valley Green Party
http://www.pvgreens.org


Israeli-Palestinian coalitions and other
organizations for peace:

Gush Shalom http://www.gush-shalom.org

Coalition of Women for Peace
http://www.coalitionofwomen4peace.org

Bat Shalom http://www.batshalom.org

Women in Black http://www.igc.org/balkans/wib/

New Profile http://www.newprofile.org