CNY Working Unity Statement

Unity Statement

The people of Israel and Palestine must themselves ultimately decide how to resolve their protracted struggle. We aim to be among those, regionally and internationally, helping them find a just resolution, one that provides self-determination and security to all peoples in the region.

By providing economic and military support for illegal and aggressive policies of the Israeli government, the United States historically has played a destructive role in the region. Each year US taxpayers provide roughly three billion dollars in military aid to Israel. The US repeatedly vetoes UN Security Council resolutions condemning Israel’s inhumane policies toward Palestinians.

Given the lack of accurate information readily available to people in the US about the nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the CNY/WJPPI aims to provide grassroots education – and political pressure – needed to re-orient US policy toward a just peace in the Middle East.

In order to understand Palestinian experience and perspectives, the Nakba and events of 1948 are critical. In order to understand Israeli experience and perspectives, the history of Western anti-semitism and the Holocaust are critical.

Committed to nonviolence and negotiation, we oppose militarism. We oppose terrorism –
political violence directed at civilians – whether small or large scale, whether on land or from the air, whether carried out by individuals, non-state groups, or governments and militaries.

We insist on:
~ compliance with international law and respect for the human rights of all peoples in Palestine and Israel. We support UN Resolution 194 calling for the right of return for Palestinian refugees.

~ freedom of movement for Palestinians within the Occupied Territories and between Gaza and the West Bank (during their transition to self-determination), including the abolition of checkpoints within the West Bank.

~ the complete end of the Israeli occupation and economic blockade of the Occupied Territories. This includes the immediate end of home demolitions, the release of all political prisoners, and the timely removal of Israel’s Wall and Israeli settlements from the West Bank.

~ negotiations for a just peace by the freely-chosen representatives of both Israelis and Palestinians, including an equitable distribution of water resources.

~ the immediate end to all US military aid to any Middle East nation, including Israel, which violates human rights or international law.

Founded in the wake of the December ‘08 Israeli attack on Gaza, CNY Working for a Just Peace in Palestine and Israel is a community educational and organizing project. A project of the Syracuse Peace Council, CNY/WJPPI includes people active in the local Methodist Task Force for Middle East Peace, the Islamic Society of Central New York, Al Huda Muslim American Society Mosque, and Syracuse Jews for Peace.

Approved July 2009