Toward a Resolution of the Palestinian - Israeli Conflict

Statement of the Spokescouncil of the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center

January 17, 2002

We at the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center are deeply pained by the ongoing violence, breakdown of peace talks, and loss of respect for the welfare, dignity and lives of both Palestinian and Israeli people. We recognize the complexity of this situation and have struggled for over a year to issue a position statement.

We believe that a legitimate dialogue and effort toward peace is possible when the fundamental interests of Israelis and Palestinians are honored. These include Israel's desire to exist as a secure state, and also the desire of the Palestinians for a secure state of their own; a plan for Jerusalem that recognizes and honors the spiritual and historical connections of both Israelis and Palestinians to contested areas of the city, such as the Temple Mount; and the difficulty in amending the suffering of Palestinians driven from their homes.

Many news sources agree that during the past 15 months, over 800 Palestinians and 200 Israelis have been killed. Moreover, about 16,000 Palestinians and 2,500 Israelis have been wounded. These estimates are huge numbers in an area that is home to about 3 million Palestinians and 6 million Israelis. In addition, while damage done to Palestinian towns, farmlands and orchards and to Israeli civilian areas pales in comparison to the number of dead and wounded, these economic losses greatly impact people's lives. This tremendous human tragedy is hard to contemplate, especially given that the sides were close to reaching an agreement in Taba in January, 2001. Unfortunately, the negotiations have not been reinitiated and the already bad situation has since become far worse.

We call for an immediate resumption of the peace talks.

We call for both sides to comply with international law, including the Geneva Accords and all pertinent UN Security Council resolutions.

We support the nonviolence movement in Palestine and Israel and echo the call of numerous groups (including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Rabbis for Human Rights, B'Tselem, Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center, and A Jewish Voice for Peace) for an end to the violence in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza; an end to deliberate acts of aggression and retaliation; an end to denying statehood to any people.

We call for equal access to basic resources - including water - and freedom for people to walk safely in the streets. All types of violence - from Palestinian suicide bombings to the everyday violence of Israel's occupation and collective punishment - must cease and the human rights of all people must be respected.

We call for Israel to end its illegal occupation and to withdraw all Israeli settlers from Gaza, the Golan Heights and the West Bank including East Jerusalem. We realize that the end of the occupation and the removal of the settlers cannot be accomplished overnight and that interim steps must be taken to stop the ongoing violence.

Therefore, we call for an international presence to be deployed immediately throughout the area. The U.S. must withdraw its veto and allow UN forces to enter Israel and Palestine and to police the border. The current U.S. position opposing the placement of international forces simply allows the cycle of violence to continue unabated. This position also ignores the precedent of the successful peacekeeping efforts of UN forces along the Israel-Egyptian and Israel-Syrian borders. Until and unless there is an international presence, including U.S. peacekeeping members, the violence is likely to continue and worsen and more innocent lives will be lost.

The United States Government supports Israel both militarily and fiscally. Therefore, as U.S., citizens, we have a responsibility to call for the cessation of the use of U.S.-supplied arms to perpetuate violence in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. We have the responsibility to see that the United States supports only policies and acts of social justice, not retaliation and domination.

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"The challenge is to coexist - not in a way of tolerance, but in a way of real connection, understanding and real love - ..." Archbishiop Demetrios, spiritual leader of the United States' Greek Orthodox Church