fwd: Appeal to World Public Opinion From Palestinians Under Siege

[Gush Shalom (Israeli Peace Bloc)]

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     Gush Shalom
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International release
March 10, 2003

The following appeal is the result of many frantic meetings and 
consultations among Palestinian activists, NGO's and political 
organizations - covering the entire spectrum of Palestinian opinion and 
including people and groups who traditionally oppose each other, but all 
united in forming The Palestinian Emergency Committees (PEC),  in the 
face of what may happen during Bush's soon-to-launched war on Iraq. 

Several of these groups have approached Gush Shalom and other Israeli 
peace groups. Efforts are underway to coordinate with as wide as possible 
a range of Israelis, but because of the urgency of the matter Ui Avnery who 
drafted an Israeli Statement of Support, asked not to wait any longer with 
disseminating the following. Consultations with fellow peace activists and 
groups will focus on action on the ground.

------- Forwarded message follows -------
From:           	"Uri Avnery" <avnery at actcom.co.il>
Date sent:       Mon, 10 Mar 2003 14:09:53 +0200
Subject:          War Emergency Palestine-Israel

Hi,
I am sending you two documents: the Palestinian Emergency 
Appeal and the Israeli Support Statement.
In view of the coming war, they are urgent.
Salamaat, Shalom,
uri


                       Appeal to World Public Opinion
                       From Palestinians under siege
                                      
World attention is focused nowadays on Iraq and the effect of the US-led 
attack on regional stability.Millions of peopleall over the world demonstrate 
their opposition to the war and attempt to avert it. However, the message 
we, the Palestinian civilian population, are receiving from Israeli officials is 
threatening us with dangerous consequences.

Statements made over the last two months by both Israeli officials and 
media indicate what they are proposing, planning and preparing to execute 
in the Palestinian occupied territories in caseof waragainst Iraq. Such 
statements could be meant as intimidation, deterrent or real threat. In view 
of our past and present experience, we, the Palestinians, tend to see them 
as a threat endangering our very existence in this land of ours.

The threats published just recently by the Israeli media include, among 
many others: 

-- Imposing atotal curfew on the Palestinian people and land.

-- Declaring the Palestinian territories closed military areas, thus            
preventing foreign and local journalists from operating in the            
territories.Such measures are clearlyintended to prevent the public            
exposureof the possible Israeli actions against the Palestinians. 

-- Continuing the Israeli practice of mass detention of Palestinian      
activists without charges, and the destruction of Palestinian homesand 
infrastructure.

-- Possible mass transfer of Palestinian civilian population from certain      
locations adjacent to the proposed Israeli security wall. These areas      
belong to the occupied West Bank. 

--Possible efforts to transfer Palestinians from the occupied territories to 
neighboring countries.

--Possible elimination of the elected president of the Palestinian      
Authority, Mr. Yasser Arafat, or his deportation to a remote area. 
     
The Palestinian Emergency Committees (PEC) were established in the 
Palestinian territories to undertake the specific tasks of organizing the 
community during the possible war on Iraq, and to highlight the need for 
Palestinian readiness for possible drastic Israelimeasures.

PEC is a coalition of NGOs, national organizations, charitable societies, 
professional unions, political parties, ministries and public figures, operating 
through a coordinating office in Ramallah with national outreach and 
representation.

We ask you to form an International Committee for the Protection of the 
Palestinian People, and to take immediate steps to prevent the Israeli 
government from taking advantage of the situation created by the war on 
Iraq.

Your support is very much needed and could help in preventing further 
suffering and pain and the death of innocent Palestinians.

For further information and contact, please write to:
protectpalestinians at yahoo.com 
Ramallah, Occupied Palestine, March 3rd, 2003

			***


 Israeli Statement of Support for the Palestinian Emergency Appeal

Israeli Statement of Support
 For the Palestinian Emergency Appeal

As Israelis, we strongly support the “Appeal to World Opinion” published by 
the Palestinian Emergency Committee. 

We call on all people of goodwill to set up urgently an International 
Committee for the Protection of the Palestinian People. 

The dangers posed to the Palestinian population in case of an American 
attack on Iraq are real and severe. 

Extreme right-wing elements in our political and military leadership may try 
to exploit the war situation in order to commit acts of “transfer”. Such acts 
violate Israeli and international law and endanger the future of Israel. 

Peace between the peoples of Israel and Palestine is the only solid basis 
for the security and well-being of our state.

ISRAELI  EMERGENCY COMMITTEE 
info at gush-shalom.org