Middle East

Upper Hudson Peace Action
Statement Peace for Israel and Palestine
All parties in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict experience fear and suffering.   Violence and military force can not bring peace or provide true security.  Peace begins with the recognition of common humanity in the former enemy and sincere respect for their legitimate rights and human needs. 

It is long past time for the Israelis and Palestinians to turn from the cycle of violence and retaliation and agree to a full, just and lasting peace.  Such a peace would protect the rights of both Palestinians and Israelis, including the right to self determination, security from violence, and fair access to the necessities of life, in particular land and water.

Recognition of the right of self determination implies that Israelis must abandon policies of occupation and that both Palestinians and Israelis must accept the existence of their respective states within mutually agreed upon borders.

The basic element of a viable peace settlement – the principle of land for peace – has long been known, and has been asserted in United Nations Resolution 242, the Geneva Accords, and the recent Saudi peace initiative endorsed by the Arab League.  We support the many Israeli and Palestinian peace activists working for reconciliation through nonviolent means.

• We call on the United States and other powers to use their full diplomatic leverage to press the parties to end their armed conflict immediately and commence negotiations for a full and sustainable peace treaty.
• We oppose the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem; and the Gaza Strip.
• We support a two-state solution to the conflict.
• We call for both sides to work with the United Nations to develop a program that will resolve the Palestinian right of return issue.
• We call for an end to all arms sales in the Middle East.
• We call for a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East.