Call it War, Not Violence

opinion by War Resister's League

It is time to stop speaking of "violence" in the Middle East and to begin to call what is happening by its right name: war. The long and brutal repression by the state of Israel of the urgent Palestinian demand for independence has escalated into all-out war.

The War Resisters League holds fast to our nearly 80-year-old pledge of resistance to all war. The horrific violence of the suicide bombers has made it too easy to ignore the terrible question, what has driven these people to give their lives? What is the nature of the prolonged oppression and hopelessness in the occupied territories that would persuade young people to kill themselves and others in this way? What the government of Israel--and its supporters here in the US--do not seem yet to grasp is that the violence is about an occupation that is illegal, immoral, and will, over the long run, bleed Israel to death. There is a point, fast approaching when the hope of an Israel at peace with its neighbors will be gone--and if that hope goes, then, over the long run, Israel too may pass.

Almost thirty years ago, the WRL made the following demands, which are just as relevant today:

1. Mutual recognition by the Arab states, Israel, and the Palestinian people of Israel's statehood (within its 1967 borders) and the right of Palestinians to have a state;
2. An international Jerusalem;
3. An end to arms sales in the Middle East by all countries; and
4. An immediate end to the slaughter.

To these we would add today a demand that Israel withdraw from the occupied territories--including the settlements illegally established since 1967--and recognize the Palestinians' rights as refugees.

It is the unstinting military, diplomatic and financial support of Israel by successive US administrations that has made this war possible. US support undergirds and underwrites all Israel's policies. The military equipment Israel is using to ravage the West Bank is paid for with US taxes. It is time to end all military aid to any country. And it is up to us--the US people--to pressure our government to withdraw aid from Israel until it ends its 35-year occupation, evacuates the illegal settlements in the West Bank and Gaza, ceases practicing state terrorism and genuinely moves toward the just peace in the region that will ultimately assure a viable Palestinian state and regional acceptance of Israel. For more information call 212/228-0450, wrl@warresisters.org.