[WCUSP] Fwd: WILPF DECLARATION "The Crisis in Gaza"

[Odile Hugonot Haber]

Can we all adopt this statement.

I am afraid that for Ann Arbor, where we have Israelis very actively
engaged in the peace movement that it will be too one sided. They want
us to mention the town of Sderot and the Quassam missile being thrown
into Israel, the security of Israel

I have thought of a new statement more feminist where the women of
Gaza, Sderot and US all feel taken in a state of siege the spiralling
rise, out of control, militarization: military budget, arm sales,
patirachy....our role is to unite women across borders, while we must
also clearly state our solidarity with the opressed...

I think the statement below is a fine statement in term of solidarity
with the Palestinians

We should adopt it beofre so it can become a national statement.Any discussion??

Odile

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: JoanWDrake at aol.com <JoanWDrake at aol.com>
Date: Jan 27, 2008 8:44 AM
Subject: WILPF DECLARATION "The Crisis in Gaza"
To: regbirchem at earthlink.net, smsmith99 at verizon.net,
PeaceWorksWoman at aol.com, ShrlyMhmmd at aol.com, cdneff at earthlink.net,
lucimurphy1 at yahoo.es, swaters26 at hotmail.com, cross0828 at yahoo.com,
BernSFish at aol.com, joandgord at shaw.ca, joanbishop at sympatico.ca,
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Claypat at aol.com, turacc at earthlink.net, roweenayvonne at yahoo.com,
beejayssite at yahoo.com, odilehh at gmail.com


The following statement was adopted yesterday in Philadelphia -- we
urge all WILPF members to send this statement immediately to their
elected representatives, their senators. Please share it as well with
your colleagues who are working on this issue. It is sent here as a
text message and also as an attachment.

 The Crisis in Gaza
 The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF),
having considered reports of an escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza
including Israel's continuing siege, deprivation, bombardment, and
military assault upon the citizens of Gaza resulting in civilian
deaths and countless injuries during the past months and that
indiscriminate random rocket attacks have been launched from Gaza into
Israel resulting in a number of injuries to Israeli citizens;
 Taking note of statements by the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)
that "Gaza's border closures are without precedent," leaving
Palestinians "effectively incarcerated...without fuel and spare parts,
public health conditions are declining steeply as water and sanitation
services struggle to function. The electricity supply is sporadic,"
 Recalling UNICEF's statement that…"the supply of safe water
to...Palestinians (is threatened)...hospitals are paralysed by power
failures and the shortage of fuel for generators...the possibility of
(hospital equipment) repair or maintenance (are limited) as spare
parts are not available...treatment (is) delayed or denied, worsening
medical conditions are causing preventable deaths,"
 1. Welcomes efforts by the United Nations High Commission for Human
Rights (UNHCR) to call for a cease fire by all parties and an end to
the blockade and siege of Gaza and the resolution passed by the UN
Security Council on January 23, 2008 calling upon the international
community "to ensure unhindered access for humanitarian assistance to
the Palestinian people and to open the border crossings to facilitate
the passage of exports and imports to the Gaza Strip.";
 2.   Applauds the international NGO community for organizing a convoy
which will bring humanitarian supplies to the people of Gaza this
week;
 3. Calls upon the government of the United States to press Israel to
end its hostile armed assaults on Gaza and its life threatening
practices which prevent the people of Gaza from meeting their basic
human needs;
 4. Calls upon those in Gaza who are responsible to cease rocket
attacks into Israeli territory.


 This declaration was issued by members of the Women's International
League for Peace and Freedom gathered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
USA, January 26, 2008



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