A Call to Israel

international | rights, freedoms and repression | opinion/analysis Tuesday May 02, 2006 10:05 by Mairead Corrigan Maguire - Peace People

Let Vanunu Go, Respond to the People's Desire for Peace

Summary:Leaving Israel after a ten-day sojourn there, I make the following calls to Israel. Release Vanunu, End the occupation of Palestine, respect their rights, dismantle the Wall, stop the daily oppression, allow people from different regions to meet one another, work for peace by mutual respect, not unilaterally, enter into dialogue with the new authority.
To the Palestinian people: use all non-violent means to resist the unjust occupation and oppression
To the international community: Demand an end to occupation, support the Palestinian non-violent resistance, restore aid, do not be silenced by fear of being labelled anti-Semitic.
To all Israelis and Palestinians: try to build mutual friendship and peace. I appeal to those of you who already work together non-violently for peace and justice to continue with your great work

LET VANUNU GO

I am leaving Israel today after a ten-day visit. It is sad and shameful that the Israeli Government continues to detain Mordechai Vanunu there for this the 20th year of his internal exile. He has no secrets. He is no threat to Israeli security. Israel knows this. I therefore call upon the Israeli Government to uphold Mordechai Vanunu's human rights to freedom of speech and freedom of movement and let him go.

I also support the calls coming from the Nuclear Disarmament activists in the East for a nuclear Free Israel, Middle East and world. I call upon the Israeli Government to open Dimona Nuclear Station for inspection, and to sign the Nuclear Nonproliferation treaty.

RESPOND TO THE PEOPLE'S DESIRE FOR PEACE

During my visit I have travelled to Jenin Refugee Camp, Hebron, and Bethlehem in the Israeli Occupied Terrorities. I have witnessed the daily suffering of the Palestinian people living under an increasing and worsening oppressive Israeli occupation.

I believe there is a great desire for peace amongst all the people, but in order to move into serious dialogue and negotiations urgent steps, based on a strong political will, particularly from the Israeli Government, need to be taken. I therefore make the following Appeal:

l) I call upon the International Community, European Community, the United States of America, to intervene to end the 40 year occupation by Israel and to end the Palestinian suffering in Palestinian camps for 60 years. The International Community must not be intimidated and silenced by threats of being anti-Semitic or anti-Israeli, but must be bold in demanding that Israel upholds its obligations under International Law.

2) The way to peace must be for Israel to end the occupation and recognize and respect all the national and international human rights of the Palestinian people, and not by following Israeli unilateral plans.

3) I call upon the Palestinian people to use the methods of Jesus Christ, Badshah Khan, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King of nonviolent resistance to the occupation and apartheid system, which continues to cause so much suffering to their people. Also for for the International Community to support such a nonviolent resistance by the Palestinian people.

4) I call upon the Israeli Government to uphold the International Court of Justice and dismantle the Apartheid wall, and the Apartheid system of injustice. To recognize the democratically elected Government of the Palestinian people and enter into serious dialogue with their new 'partner for peace' .

5) I call upon the Israeli Government, European Union, United States, to restore Foreign Aid as the withdrawing of this is, in effect, a collective punishment of the Palestinian people, many of whom already live under great poverty and hardship, due to the continuing illegal occupation and colonization of the Palestinian Territories.

6) I call upon all Israeli and Palestinian people to continue to hope and believe and act for peace, and to do everything in their power to begin to build trust and friendship amongst each other. Nuclear Weapons, militarism, apartheid walls, and emergency laws, will not build trust or overcome the fear of each other, but continuing the great work already being done by both Israeli and Palestinian peace activists, and many others, will bring peace. The Israeli Government can help this process by making it possible for people to actually meet each other, and build a grassroots nonviolent peace movement together.

I have great hopes for both Israel-Palestine and leave strengthened and upheld by the love and affection I have received from my many Israeli and Palestinian Friends.

Shalom/Salaam