Mr Prime Minister

We, the undersigned, deeply alarmed by the continuing violence in Israel and Palestine, are strongly supporting the peace movements advocating negotiations.

We have been informed that the Israeli government asked the Israeli Attorney General to consider possible legal procedures to be used against Gush Shalom.

Gush Shalom has sent letters to fifteen IDF officers warning them that they were guilty of violating the fourth Geneva Convention on human rights, and that Gush Shalom was currently compiling evidence about acts committed by these officers and putting all information in files. The letters added that such files could be used in an Israeli court or before an international war crimes tribunal.

By doing this, Gush Shalom is exercising a moral duty and making use of its democratic right.

So far, all opinions have had the right to express themselves in Israel. If the government denies that right, it can no longer be considered democratic.

Such threats leveled on an organization struggling for peace and for human rights for Israelis and Palestinians constitute a very severe attack against democracy and peace.

We, therefore request the Israeli government not to take any legal steps against Gush Shalom.

Regards

Sonia FAYMAN, sociologist, member of SICO (Solidaires des Isra י liens Contre l'Occupation) and of UJFP (French Jewish Peace Union), Paris

St י phane HESSEL, French Ambassador, Paris

Christiane HESSEL, Paris

Madeleine REBEYRIOUX, historian, Paris

Fabienne MESSICA, journalist, member of SICO, Paris

Dani ט le SCHULMANN, biblioth י caire, member of SICO and UJFP, Paris

Elias SEIDOWSKY, member of UJFP, Nancy

Rudolf BKOUCHE, member of UJFP, Lille

Jane ROGER-FAYMAN, Paris

Jesus MESA, Paris

Suzanne ROSENBERG, sociologist, member of UJFP, Paris

Lucero MARIANI, soil scientist, member of SICO, Montr י al

Monique CRINON, philosopher and sociologist, member of SICO and CEDETIM (international solidarity association), Paris

Threse SPECTOR, research manager in the Ministry of transport, member of UJFP, Paris

Catherine FORET, sociologist, Lyon

Sylvie ROSENBERG-REINER, physician anesthesiologist, Paris

Nicole FAYMAN, Toulon

Anne BASILE, translator, Paris

Maya VIGIER, sociologist, member of SICO and UJFP, Paris

Reynold HENRYS, journalist, Paris

Edgar BLAUSTEIN, translator, member of SICO, Paris

Georges LABICA, philosopher, Chairman of CVPR-PO (Vigilance Committee for a Real Peace in the Middle East), Paris

Ahmed BENANI, political scientist, Chairman of OIAP (International Observatory of Palestinian Affairs), Geneva

Jean-Henri ROGER, film maker, Paris

Jean-Pierre TROCHE, architect, member of CEDETIM, Paris

Michel TUBIANA, lawyer, chairman of LDH, Ligue des Droits de l'Homme (Human Rights League), Paris

Jean-Pierre PAGE, trade unionist, Paris

Mireille BERTHO, teacher, member of LDH (Ligue des Droits de l'Homme), Chamb י ry

Maryse TRIPIER, sociologist, teacher at Paris VII Jussieu University, Paris

Pierre TRIPIER, sociologist, teacher at Parix X Nanterre University, Paris

Gilles VINCON, biologist, member of UJFP, Grenoble

Marcel SCHLEWER priest, member of Chr י tiens et Proche Orient, Grenoble

Arnaud SPIRE, philosopher and journalist, former member of the staff of the communist diary "l'Humanit י "