Seven steps to peace Peace Action deplores the breakdown of the peace process due to current provocations and the use of violence and urges the government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to take all peaceful steps to end the escalating violence. Ultimatums and threats of even greater violence are not solutions to this crisis, and should be ended. We note that the vast majority of victims of this violence are Palestinians , and that the Israel Defense Forces and police are clearly using disproportionate force, including heavy weapons and helicopter gunships against civilians. We ask Prime Minister Barak to pull back all armed forces and police , and for Chairman Arafat to make every effort to restrain armed civilians. We call for and support U.N. and multilateral efforts to broker peace rather than unilateral actions by the U.S. Further, we call for the U.N. to establish an international commission to investigate the causes for violence. We call upon the U.S. government to halt the sale and delivery of weapons to Israel and other countries in the Middle East, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, as the weapons are contributing to the violence and abuse of human rights. With sadness we note that the U.S. is the major arms merchant to Israel and other countries in the Middle East. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to all those families, Palestinian and Israeli alike, who are mourning personal losses. We call upon the members of Peace Action to: 1) Support humanitarian relief efforts. 2) Stand alert to oppose further escalations of violence, especially in light of the death of U.S. sailors off the coast of Yemen. 3) Seek common ground in our work as peace activists and oppose stereotyping of Arabs and Jews. 4) Use the press, public vigils and other public activities and forums to call for peacemaking rather than violence. 5) Urge the implementation of all United Nations Security Council Resolutions. 6) Express solidarity with the strong efforts of the peacemakers in both Israel and Palestine and honor their courage in demonstrating against the violence. 7) Redouble efforts to have Congress pass comprehensive Arms Transfer Code of Conduct legislation. - Issued by Peace Action (U.S.) _______________________________________________ Leninist-International mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.wwpublish.com/mailman/listinfo/leninist-international
