International CO Day: May 15th
Notes to editors
[1] The conference 'Globalising Nonviolence' was
organised by War Resisters' International, and brought together 200
activists from more than 30 countries from all continents.
The International Council, consisting of representatives of the more
than 80 member organisations and 11 individually elected members, met
following the conference on 30 July 2006.
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Negotiations Nothing to be Ashamed of, Says War
Resisters' International
Israel’s devastation of Lebanon will result in the destruction
We have learned that Israel’s massive bombing of Lebanon has now
escalated into a full invasion, at the cost of (so far) hundreds of
lives, most of them Lebanese.
We are the International Council of the War Resisters' International,
meeting in Eringerfeld, Germany, following the “Globalising
Nonviolence” conference of the WRI, which brought together 200
activists from every continent and from the Middle East [1]. We believe
that Israel’s devastation of Lebanon will result in the destruction of
not one, but two countries – that such is the inevitable law of
violence. Israel’s own history stands as proof: Fifty-eight years of
violence have brought Israelis neither peace nor security. This most
recent assault will only escalate the cycle.
We do not support Hizballah’s incursion into Israel – nor Israel's long
incursions into Mazrea' Shiba'a in Lebanon. Hizballah’s killing of
Israeli soldiers was preceded a month earlier by Israel’s live
ammunition exercises into Lebanon, killing three Lebanese shepherds.
Hizballah’s capture of Israeli soldiers took place against the backdrop
of Israel’s ongoing imprisonment of 10,000 political prisoners,
including Palestinian women and children, as well as some Lebanese
prisoners. It is clear that Israel is the initiator of this conflict.
Nevertheless, we also absolutely oppose Hizballah's retaliation to this
aggression, just as we deplore any killing. We reject the logic of war,
of returning a blow for a blow.
We support the rights of all people living under occupation to resist
that occupation. It is a principle of nonviolence that all injustice
must be resisted. We of WRI know of many nonviolent groups in this
region that could lead the way to just, peaceful and nonviolent
solutions.
We fear the repercussions when a nuclear-armed power uses its vast
military superiority to besiege Gaza, to build a wall that further
isolates the already-occupied Palestinians, and now to invade a
neighbouring country. Indeed the disparity of military capability
between the two countries makes it impossible to call the invasion of
Lebanon an even-handed conflict; it is certainly not self-defence.
Unrestrained by the international community, or by a judicious
reckoning of the inevitable consequences to itself, Israel is attacking
the entire country of Lebanon, destroying the civilian infrastructure
with US-supplied munitions, destroying or seizing precious resources,
and killing civilians.
The awful magnitude and comprehensive destruction of these attacks
leads us to believe that Israel had planned the destruction of Lebanon
long before. It is also important to raise the question of the US
interests possibly involved in this war, in the context of the current
US occupation of Iraq and US statements regarding Syria and Iran.
Whatever the history, the immediate need now is for negotiations. “Negotiating
– even in war – is nothing to be ashamed of,” says Sheerin al-Araj,
a Palestinian participant in the conference. “In fact, negotiations
are the only way any war has ever ended.” Because, again, of the
vast disparity of military might, we believe that Israel requires a
special urging toward those negotiations.
Therefore we call upon the US government to halt military aid to Israel
and to stop protecting Israel from the UN and international law
sanctions.
We call for Israel to initiate an immediate cessation of its attacks on
Lebanon and to dismantle the Wall and the occupation of Palestine.
We call upon those who stand for justice and peace everywhere to
provide humanitarian aid for the people of Lebanon, as well as of
Palestine, and international support for those nonviolent groups on all
sides struggling to bring peace to the region.
Finally, we call upon all people – especially the people of the United
States – to oppose the military profiteers who alone will benefit from
this war.
War Resisters' International Council Meeting, 30 July 2006
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