[WCUSP] Australian WILPF letter to our Prime Minister re Middle East

[C.J. Minster]

For those of you not on the WILPF Intl listserv.

c.j.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Cathy Picone <cpicone at westnet.com.au>
Date: Jul 24, 2006 10:52 PM
Subject: wilpf-news Australian WILPF letter to our Prime Minister re Middle
East
To: wilpf-news at igc.topica.com

 Dear WILPFers,

Here below is a copy of the letter which WILPF (Australia) sent last Friday
to our Prime Minister.

Warmly,

Cathy Picone

===========================================================

WILPF (Australian Section) letter to Australian Prime Minister:

*
*
24 July 2006

Hon. John Howard MP
Prime Minister
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600

Dear Prime Minister
 *Re: Middle East*
*
*
Further to our fax of 21 July 2006, we write concerning the escalating
violence across the Israel/ Lebanon border.

We note that once again, in your public statements, both you and Foreign
Minister Downer have followed the lead of US President Bush in speaking
about Israel's right to defend itself and about whose actions have "started"
this present phase of the conflict.

WILPF agrees that every nation state, including Israel, has the right,
indeed the responsibility, to defend its territory and its citizens.
However, in our view, the response of the Israeli Defence Force in Lebanon
has been totally disproportionate. The response of the Israeli Government to
Hezbollah's abduction of two of its soldiers in the north and the killing of
six others - tragic while that was - has been a massive overreaction on the
part of the Israeli Government.

In response to Hezbollah's actions, the Israeli Government has launched an
all-out war against Hezbollah not only in southern Lebanon, but as far north
as Tripoli. In the process, they have killed with their airstrikes hundreds
of non-combatants who have been caught up in the war. According to the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), a large proportion of these
casualties are children.

These actions of the Israeli Government have also brought about a
humanitarian crisis among Lebanese civilians as the IDF are destroying
Lebanon's infrastructure. Half a million people have been uprooted from
their homes. Supplies of medicines, food and water have been impeded. The
resultant human suffering is enormous. The loss of lives from this looming
humanitarian crisis will far outnumber civilians killed by airstrtikes.

WILPF believes that these actions on the part of the Israeli state have not
only been a massive and tragic overreaction but also a strategic blunder of
huge proportions.  These actions have already had the effect of undermining
the more moderate forces within Lebanon, of undermining the Lebanese
Government itself and of undermining the growth of democratic institutions
there. They have brought into even more central diplomatic play nations such
as Syria and Iran thereby increasing their power and influence. Perhaps most
tellingly, among many ordinary people in the region, they have increased
sympathy and influence for Hezbollah itself.

Accordingly, WILPF calls on you to urge an immediate cessation of
hostilities.

WILPF calls for:

* an immediate ceasefire in both northern and southern Israel;
* recognition that the US brokered "road map" has failed;
* a new peace process brokered by the United Nations including discussions
towards a two-state solution with a viable Palestinian state (not
Palestinian cantons in Gaza and the West Bank);
* recognition that the unconstructive roles played by governments such as
the USA, Iran and Syria have contributed to the present violence and that
these governments ought not to be using the Israel/ Palestine or the Israel/
Lebanon conflicts to "shadow box" their own conflicts but should return to
the negotiating table, in particular in the case of the USA and Iran to
resolve questions relating to Iran's nuclear ambitions; and
* recognition that the US's resolve to secure access to and control over the
oil wealth of the region and consequently its interests in keeping the Arab
states and populations divided both from each other and from the people of
Israel contributes not insignificantly to the current difficulties.

Military violence can never be a solution to the problems of the region.
What is needed is a new peace process brokered by the United Nations.  This
is the focus that is being conveniently ignored by the international
community thus allowing civilian deaths and infrastructure destruction to
continue.

We in WILPF believe that we can best assist the peoples of the region by
calling on their governments and other non-state actors to agree to a
ceasefire and to come to the negotiation table to work towards a just peace.

We therefore urge the Australian Government to use your good offices with
the United States to press the Bush Administration also to work vigorously
for an immediate ceasefire.

We look forward to your response.
 Yours sincerely,

Cathy Picone and Ruth Russell
Joint National Coordinators





CC.: Foreign Minister Downer, DFAT
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Hon Kevin Rudd MP,
Shadow for Foreign Affairs
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Senator Natasha Stott Despoja,
AD's Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs
*Senator.Stott.Despoja at democrats.org.au
*Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Senator Bob Brown
Australian Greens Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs
senator.bob.brown at aph.gov.au
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

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---------------------
C.J. Minster, Program Chair
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
Make Peace a Reality - Join WILPF!
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