Appeal to Annan, Bush, European Union
by Baladna-Association for arab youth, IPYL-International Palestinian Youth League, Youth Development Department - Orient House, Jerusalem / Palestine
Dear Friends,
Baladna - Association for Arab Youth, The International Palestinian
Youth League (IPYL) and the Youth Development Department - Orient House
(YDD) as Palestinian youth organizations and bodies have initiated this
statement as reaction to the terrible situation in Palestine.
We call upon all youth organization around the world to join us in
sigining this statement that will be sent to the United Nations, European
Union and the United States of America.
hope to hear from you soon
Best Regards
Nadem Nashef
Monday, April 01, 2002
End Israeli occupation End Israeli crimes
Your Excellency Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations,
Your Excellency Mr. George W. Bush, President of the United States of America
Your Excellencies at European Union,
Madams and Sirs,
We, the undersigned, Youth organizations and youth activists from all
around the globe, believe that a full-scale Israeli offensive war throughout
the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) has begun. This brutal and illegal
attack demands from global world governements and civil society organizations
- including human rights organizations, solidarity groups, and individual's,
to take immediate action to stop Israel’s all-out war against
the Palestinian people and its 35-year belligerent military occupation
of the Gaza strip and West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
Israeli occupying forces have invaded the compound
of the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat in Ramallah as part of a systematic
and longstanding campaign to undermine, humiliate, and destroy the Palestinian
political leadership and people. Israeli troops have also seized complete
control of Ramallah, Bethlehem, Qalqilya, Tulkarim and imposed a total
curfew. They are performing massive house-to-house arrests, and are assassinating
Palestinian civilians and unarmed policemen in cold blood. At the same
time, Israeli officials have begun a massive military build-up, including
the mobilization of 20,000 army reservists in preparation for an openly
declared war throughout the OPT that promises to be widespread, prolonged,
and bloody.
The Israeli army is continuing violent operations,
by reoccupying Palestinian cities and refugee camps and violating every
basic human rights.
Against all International conventions dictating
the laws of war, the Israeli soldiers are prohibiting emergency medical
relief teams from rescuing the injured. Electricity and water are cut off
from the area. Journalists are besieged and prevented from their work.
The International Red Cross is almost paralyzed. There are no internationally
mandated witnesses to prevent or report the war crimes committed by Sharon
and his war establishment.
Palestinian civil society groups have warned for
years that Israel’s freedom to act, as a state above the law
would severely undermine chances for a just and lasting peace. After decades
of occupation, apartheid, and ethnic cleansing and 18 months of full-scale
war against a civilian population, we call for the international community
not to wait for massacres on the scale of those in Sabra and Shatila in
1982.
The time for action is now.
The support for the Palestinian people shown by
international solidarity groups, manifested in numerous statements, visits,
and actions, has proved invaluable throughout this crisis. Now is the time
for global civil society and governmental to use the momentum it has generated
and the ethical integrity it has demonstrated to forcefully demand immediate
action from the Israeli government to end its occupation, which is the
root cause of the conflict, and to start immediately implementing all relevant
United Nations' Security Council Resolutions, starting by resolution number
1402, which calls Israel for immediate cease fire and to withdraw from
the cities which it have re-occupied, and to set implementation actions
and measures, similar to those which have been enforced in other parts
of the world.
To this end, we call upon all those who oppose occupation,
apartheid, ethnic cleansing, and war crimes, who are committed to justice
and peace and freedom, who are willing to speak truth to act against Israeli
invasion and re-occupation.
The pattern of escalating oppression and brutality
that we have experienced over the past 18 months moves inexorably towards
a disaster which its consequences we can only begin to imagine. In this
dark hour of suffering and determined resistance, we are sure that the
worst is yet to come, but we are equally sure that, with the your support
and fair stand and that of the global civil society at this crucial time,
peace and justice will prevail.
Free Palestine, End Occupation, Fight for Justice
Israeli Occupation == State Terrorism and violence
Yours Sincerely,
Baladna-Association for arab youth
IPYL-International Palestinian Youth League
Youth Development Department - Orient House, Jerusalem / Palestine
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