| Four Steps Toward Peace
in the Middle East Crisis
The war raging in Lebanon, Gaza and Israel has created a grave humanitarian crisis. In assessing responsibilities for the conflict, people committed to peace can reasonably disagree. Yet the peace movement must unite in lifting up the only principles that can break the cycle of violence and lead toward a more lasting resolution of grievances.
The Coalition for Peace Action has long worked for peace in that part of the world. At every point we have opposed the Iraq war and warned against further preemptive strikes by the US against either Syria or Iran. We believe that the Bush Administration's bellicose actions and diplomatic inaction have made the situation far worse. As a result the threat of terrorism in the region -- and beyond -- has only increased. President Bush's fixation on war and militarism has reversed the momentum for Middle East peace that existed before he came to office. The current crisis stems in large part from that failure.
1. We support UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and most world leaders in their call for an immediate cease-fire to end fighting between Hezbollah and Israel.
We also agree with them that Hezbollah must stop its "deliberate targeting of Israeli population centers," and that Israel must put an end to all bombing and ground operations in Lebanon and the blockading of Lebanese ports.
2. We insist that there can be no military solution to an essentially political problem. The only basis for lasting peace in the region is to negotiate a fair and comprehensive settlement among the combatants.
By failing for the last five years to act as an honest broker, the United States bears heavy responsibility for the current crisis. We call upon President Bush to restore a dialogue of peace among the combatants, the other governments in the region, and the international community by using every means available, including proven seasoned diplomats.
3. We urge all parties in the conflict to uphold a commitment to international law -- especially the cardinal principle of non-combatant immunity -- and to resolutions of the United Nations.
The attacks and reprisals now raging have victimized many innocent civilians and those least able to protect themselves. Children are paying a particularly terrible price.
4. Finally, we call upon the nations of the world -- and especially upon our own government -- to initiate a massive influx of humanitarian aid into the region and to support a major project of rebuilding war-torn areas.
The devastation inflicted by this futile war -- already in the billions of dollars -- will take decades to repair.
The continuing military hostilities in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as in Lebanon, pose a serious threat of escalation. An immediate cease-fire on all sides is imperative to enable humanitarian and environmental rescue and to stop the conflict from engulfing the entire region with dire consequences for the world.
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