For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614,
mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org
Green presidential candidate McKinney is safe after the SS Dignity,
carrying relief to Gaza, is rammed by an Israeli gunboat in
international waters
Greens challenge Obama to press Israel to comply with international law
and end the illegal occupation of Gaza and other Palestinian lands
WASHINGTON, DC — The Green Party of the United States calls for an
immediate end to Israel’s bombing attacks on Gaza, which in the past
four days has already caused at least 364 deaths, including Palestinian
women and children, with hundreds more wounded.
“It’s clear that President Bush gave a green light for Israel’s massive
and disproportionate display of force. The Green Party demands that the
US seek a bilateral ceasefire, with immediate pressure on Israel to stop
the bombardment and end the occupation,” said Rosa Clemente, the Green
Party’s 2008 candidate for Vice President of the United States
(http://www.rosaclemente.com).
Cynthia McKinney, the Green Party’s 2008 presidential candidate, had
joined the Free Gaza Group (http://www.freegaza.org) on the SS Dignity,
which sailed from Cyprus to deliver three tons of medicine and
humanitarian aid to Gaza in defiance of an Israeli blockade. Ms.
McKinney was safe after Israeli gunboats attempted to intercept the
Dignity last night and one gunboat illegally rammed the vessel in
international waters, 90 miles off the Gaza coast
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/30/israel-gaza-aid-ship).
Despite damage sustained in the encounter, the Dignity has docked safely
in Lebanon and Ms. McKinney is on her way to Beirut.
In an interview on CNN
(http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2008/12/30/am.lebanon.aid.boat.mckinney.cnn),
Cynthia McKinney said, “What we have gone through pales in comparison to
what the people of the Gaza Strip are suffering.” Ms. McKinney is
challenging President-elect Barack Obama to condemn Israel’s attacks on
Gaza.
Greens noted that Hamas, the target of Israel’s aerial bombardment, was
democratically elected in 2006, and that Israel and the US have been
trying to remove Hamas from power, especially by attempting to spark a
civil war between Hamas and Fatah.
Since its election, Hamas has repeatedly offered to talk with Israel,
but Israel has rejected all such overtures. Hamas had observed a
five-month truce that was broken on November 4 when Israeli Defense
Forces killed five Palestinians. In retaliation, Hamas responded with
missiles which over the last month have injured one Israeli and caused
property damage. The Green Party categorically condemns all violence
visited on unarmed civilians.
“Palestinians are living under an occupation that has continued despite
numerous UN directives ordering Israel to withdraw. Israel’s latest
lethal assault will only intensify the crisis and inflict further
suffering on the Palestinian people. Two thirds of Gazans are refugees
– some doubly so, from 1948 and 1967 — and all Gaza residents are
living in conditions comparable to a medieval siege. Israel must comply
with international law and ends its illegal military occupation of the
West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, dismantle the illegal separation
wall, make restitution to Palestinians whose lands have been seized, and
recognize the Palestinian right of return. If President Obama wants to
make history by resolving the Middle East conflict, he must press Israel
to take these steps,” said Hajja Romi Elnagar, Louisiana Green and
member of the Green Party’s International Committee
(http://www.gp.org/committees/intl).
“The current assumption in the US media that this is a symmetrical
conflict between equals is as absurd as the claim that Israel’s bombs
are not threatening women and children. Israel is the world’s fourth
most powerful military nation, a nuclear power that enjoys support from
the US, while Palestinians are impoverished, with many living without
electricity, water, food, and medicine for weeks,” said Ms. Elnagar.
As a result of the Israeli blockade, 80% of Gazans live on less than two
dollars a day. Unemployment hovers at 50-60% in Gaza, with only 195
factories, reduced from 3,900 in 2005. Israel has barred the delivery of
UN relief to Gazans.
The Green Party has called for an end to US military aid to Israel and
supports the movement for international boycott, divestment, and
sanctions against Israel until Israel ends the occupation, obeys
international law (including Geneva Conventions and the UN’s Universal
Declaration of Human Rights), and guarantees full human rights for
Palestinians. The party supports efforts by Palestinian and Israeli
peace groups towards a nonviolent negotiated resolution to the conflict.
The Green Party also endorses complete regional (and, ultimately,
global) nuclear disarmament to remove the threat of a nuclear exchange
in the Middle East and Asia. Greens have expressed concern that Barack
Obama will bow to demands from AIPAC and other pro-Israel lobbies and
maintain the Clinton and Bush administrations’ uncritical support for
Israel’s military objectives and human rights violations.
MORE INFORMATION
Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193
Tally of Green election victories
http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/election-results.html
Green candidate news http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/candidate-news.php
Green candidate database for 2008 and other campaign information:
http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections