{news} Response from Swedish Green/former MEP Per Gahrton to GP RELEASE on Gaza

Tue Dec 30 16:37:08 EST 2008

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Justine McCabe 
To: USGP International Committee 
Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 4:22 PM
Subject: USGP-INT Response from Swedish Green Per Gahrton to GP RELEASEGreens condemn Israeli attacks on Gaza;McKinney on relief vessel rammed by Israeli gunboats

Hi All, 

A message of support for the Gaza PR from Swedish Green and former MEP Per Gahrton, a long-time activist for I-P peace and Palestinian human rights..

Justine  

---- Original Message ----- 
From: Per Gahrton 
To: Justine McCabe 
Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 4:07 PM
Subject: Re: GP RELEASE Greens condemn Israeli attacks on Gaza; McKinney on relief vessel rammed by Israeli gunboats

thanks for information, great that us greens react sharply,
yours Per Gahrton, former MEP Sweden, just published The Palestinian Liberation struggle (770 pages, unfortunately only in Swedish)
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Justine McCabe 
  To: Justine McCabe 
  Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 9:40 PM
  Subject: GP RELEASE Greens condemn Israeli attacks on Gaza; McKinney on relief vessel rammed by Israeli gunboats

  GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
  http://www.gp.org

  For Immediate Release:
  Tuesday, December 30, 2008

  Contacts:
  Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614,
  mclarty at greens.org
  Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene at gp.org

  Green Party condemns Israel's massive air attack on Gaza, calls on US
  to rein in Israel and seek a ceasefire

  . 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

  Cynthia McKinney/Rosa Clemente 2008 'Power to the People' Campaign for
  the White House
  http://www.runcynthiarun.org
  http://votetruth08.com
  http://www.rosaclemente.com

  Green Party press releases:
  "Greens call the 60th anniversary of Israel an occasion to affirm
  international law, enact human rights, and end the illegal occupation
  of Palestinian territories" (May 19, 2008)
  http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=61
  "Greens: Obama's AIPAC speech reveals he has embraced Bush propaganda
  on Iran, may support an attack" (June 12, 2008)
  http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=67

  ~ END ~

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