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The European Jews for a Just Peace (EJJP) press conference, held in Jerusalem on 3 March.
Following an eight day tour of the
region, representatives of European Jews for a Just Peace (EJJP) held a press
conference in Jerusalem today as part of the local and international resistance
to Israel’s policies toward the Palestinian people, particularly the current
killings and destruction in the Gaza Strip.
“Israel’s
current military operation has failed and will not bring security to anyone,”
noted Dror Feiler, Chairperson of EJJP. “The Israeli military operation is a
macho show. People struggling for liberation, as the Palestinians are, cannot
be stopped with force. History has proven this,” added Feiler.
“Non-violent
resistance is constantly being developed by the Palestinians, but is always met
with Israeli violence, such as happens in Beilin, for example,” says Feiler.
What kind of message is Israel
thus sending to the Palestinian people? That there will be no peace, that
negotiations will lead nowhere and that Israel will continue making facts
on the ground.”
EJJP (http://www.ejjp.org/) is a network of European
Jewish groups campaigning against the Israeli occupation from ten European
countries, including Germany,
Italy, France and the UK. Describing the organization as
“representing a significant body of opinion within the European Jewish
communities,” EJJP Secretary Dan Judelson noted that this was the group’s third
visit to the area in the past three years.
Following
visits to places such as Hebron, Bethlehem, Ramallah and Jenin, Judelson added
that “What’s happening throughout the occupied West Bank is low intensity
ethnic cleansing in terms of numbers, but is devastating entire Palestinian
communities. We’ve met Palestinian families living in tents under demolition
orders, seen shop doors welded shut by the Israeli army and seen how
Palestinians are being forced from their homes by settlement expansion.”
During
their visit, EJJP delegates further met with representatives of the Quartet,
European ambassadors and consuls, in addition to Palestinian, Israeli and
international NGOs and political activists.
“We
advocate for European suspension of the trade association agreement with Israel as a
non-violent way to promote Palestinian rights and peace,” stated Feiler, “and
this is the message we are taking to parliamentarians and politicians.
Diplomats talk, but now is the time for action.”
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