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47.8%ANMag Issue 26 Public Surveillance
The Gaza-Israel Crisis
By Avaaz.org
The Gaza-Israel crisis is out of control. It's come to this: Bloody full-scale invasion, or a cease-fire.1 With rockets raining down on both sides, Israel launched a ground assault into the Gaza Strip this weekend.2 Three Israelis and over a hundred Palestinians, many of them civilians and children, lie dead already.3 The next 48 hours are crucial -- Israel's cabinet will discuss a larger invasion Wednesday. But Hamas floated a Gaza ceasefire months ago, and 64% of Israelis support the idea.4
Both sides know they are in a battle for global legitimacy, and international opinion counts. We need a massive global outcry for a cease-fire now -- sign the emergency petition below, then forward this message to friends and family. We will deliver our petition to senior Israeli and Palestinian leaders this week, as well as in a major billboard campaign:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/gaza_ceasefire_now/5.php
Citizens on both sides are desperate for safety. Many experts believe that without a ceasefire to stabilize Gaza, there is no chance for achieving a comprehensive peace and a fair two-state deal. While the US still maintains no-one must talk to Hamas, Israel itself has begun to break that taboo. Public reports and our own contacts indicate that European and Arab officials now support a Gaza ceasefire, as does Palestinian President Abbas.
Like the Hezbollah-Israel war of 2006, this conflict is spinning out of control. Just as it did then, international pressure can help achieve a ceasefire today. The combatants take public opinion very seriously. So let's send a united global message to the warring parties to stop the violence -- sign the petition and spread the word today:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/gaza_ceasefire_now/5.php
With hope and determination,
Paul, Galit, Esra'a, Ricken, Ben, Graziela, Pascal and the whole Avaaz team
PS: The UN has already called for both sides to cease all acts of violence5 -- the European Union, Turkey, Russia, the UK, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and many other states have joined the global chorus. This is not just a war but a growing humanitarian crisis. Last month we met with EU Middle East envoy Marc Otte and senior advisers in European member states to deliver a call for a ceasefire and an internationally-overseen opening of the Gaza crossings, and we have seen progress since from the international community.6 There is much more to do. We've campaigned hard for real Middle East talks, but unless Gaza is stabilized, no lasting peace is possible.
Sources:
1. Invasion or ceasefire – Guardian news report on the Israeli debate:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/mar/03/israel.gaza
2. The Times of London news report - both sides claiming success, 110 dead:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article3473788.ece
Missiles now reaching the Israeli city of Ashkelon:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iDwNccgnikUMFy7O6LWaLsmaFUqwD8V5I2I00
3. Reports differ about casualty counts from the weekend operation - the IDF says 90% of those killed were militants, but respected Israeli human rights organisation Bt'selem reports that 54 of 106 Palestinians killed did not take part in the fighting:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/960338.html
4. 64% of Israelis support ceasefire talks with Hamas:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/958473.html
President Abbas wants to help broker such a ceasefire:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3514385,00.html
5. UN and EU call for an end to the violence:
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsMaps/idUSN0127116720080302
6. European and international policy shifting:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/956434.html
and http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/951934.html
About AVAAZ.org
Avaaz.org is an independent, not-for-profit global campaigning organization that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's people inform global decision-making. (Avaaz means "voice" in many languages.) Avaaz receives no money from governments or corporations, and is staffed by a global team based in London, Rio de Janeiro, New York, Paris, Washington DC, and Geneva.