Sat 17 Jan 2009
Peace in the Middle East
Posted by admin under Middle East
[3] Comments
Ron Forthofer
2002 Green Party candidate for Governor of Colorado, 2000 candidate for Congress, CO
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly the current Israeli campaign against Gaza, must be resolved. To help reach a just peace, as President, I will instruct the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations to introduce a Security Council resolution. This resolution will call for a total economic boycott of Israel until it complies with international law. This resolution means that Israel must immediately end its attack on Gaza and open up Gaza’s borders. In addition, Israel must negotiate a peace agreement based on UN resolutions and the 2002 Arab peace proposal. A UN peacekeeping force will be positioned along the June 4, 1967 borders. There will be a two-year timeframe for the negotiation and implementation of the agreement. Sanctions will remain in place until Israel has fully complied with the peace agreement.
Why take this approach? The U.S., through our veto of Security Council resolutions, has enabled Israel to violate Palestinian human rights and to flout international law. In so doing, the U.S. has not been a true friend to Israel. Our actions have not supported the long-term best interests of Israelis who want to live in peace and harmony with their neighbors. Instead of reaching an accommodation with its neighbors, our unconditional backing of Israeli policies has allowed it to avoid facing facts. Our enabling has resulted in steadily increasing violence and hatred on both sides. We must immediately change this dynamic in order to reach a just peace before it is too late. Even Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert acknowledged that Israel needed to withdraw from almost all of the West Bank and the Golan Heights. Olmert added: “We refuse to face reality … The strategic threats we face have nothing to do with where we draw our borders …”
This resolution will serve the best interests of Israelis, Palestinians and Americans.
3 Responses to “ Peace in the Middle East ”
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[…] StatesPalestine, Israel, and Ms. McKinney’s recent trip on a relief boat destined for Gazahttp://www.gp.org/first100/?p=93http://www.vimeo.com/2861110This clip is also posted on the Green Party’s home […]
You have left out a number of important items.
What about the weaponry that is supplied by the United States, on the condition that it will only be used in self-defense?
What about the call, by the head of the party, to end military support for the state of Israel?
What about the party platform specifying a single-state solution to the conflict?
I agree that Israel is violating international law, and continuing war will never solve the conflict; however, I don’t believe Hamas has the right to throw bombs at Israel, either. I wouldn’t be too happy if Mexico were attacking the U.S.