[At a time when war has broken out on all fronts, the Gush Shalom organization, working in conjunction with the Alternative Information Center, has issued the following call for EU intervention to stop the Israeli army. This runs as an ad in the International Herald Tribune on July 14th, 2006.
The Alternative Information Center is located at 4 Shlomtzion HaMalka Street, on the second floor. Their telephone is 02-624 1159. Their directors are: Yossi Bar Tal, tel. 052-637-5035, and Sergio Yannai, tel. 054- 207 6536. Their web site is at: www.alternativenews.org. Their e-mail is yossi@alt-info.org.
Between 1989 and 1992, the Alternative Information Center was closed by Israeli security and their directors were jailed. Following the election of the new Israeli government that initiated the Oslo process in 1992-1993, AIC resumed full time activity. – db]

CALLING EUROPE!

The internationally-lauded “disengagement” from Gaza did not end the occupation there. This continued in the form of an Israeli stranglehold over Gaza’s communications with the outside world. The Gaza Strip has been turned into a huge open-air prison.

With the Israeli government refusing to talk to the elected Palestinian government, the only dialogue left now is the dialogue of the bombs, often directed at civilian targets on both sides of the border.

Without international intervention, a brutal escalation has become almost inevitable.

WE, Israeli patriots and peace activists, call upon the European Union and its member states, possibly in conjunction with other countries, to intervene immediately and effectively in the looming Israel-Palestinian crisis, and, especially to –

1. APPOINT a representative of ministerial rank to Israel/Palestine to monitor unfolding events and advise the European Union on immediate steps the situation may demand.

2. STOP the severe sanctions imposed by Europe on the Palestinian Authority as a penalty for exercising their democratic right and electing a government of their choice. This by itself is a brutal intervention on behalf of the occupation.

3. ENGAGE both the Government of Israel and the elected Palestinian president and government in a serious dialogue, with the view of putting an end to the present crisis and paving the way for meaningful peace negotiations.

4. EXTEND the European Union Border Assistance Mission, already successfully operating at the Rafah border crossing, to all border crossings between Israel and the Gaza Strip, in order to ensure the regular flow of foodstuffs, medicines and other goods in both directions, irrespective of political and military developments.

5. ACT as a permanent mediator for acute crises, such as the case of the Israeli prisoner-of-war, Gilad Shalit.

6. OFFER both sides to station a permanent European peace-keeping force between the Gaza Strip and Israel.

7. CONSIDER the convening of an international conference for ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

EUROPE CANNOT AFFORD TO REMAIN SILENT!

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