In accordance with the humanitarian principles in Judaism, and universal values of peace, justice and human rights, Kolot Shalom expresses its condemnation of the following events in the Middle East:
1) Kolot Shalom condemns the extensive demolition of houses in Rafah by the Israeli army.
Background Information: Since the beginning of the Intifidah, the Israeli army has destroyed 1,200 houses in Rafah, in the Gaza Strip. This has resulted in 12,000 people becoming homeless, according to the United Nations. In the past week in Rafah, the United Nations estimates that 1600 people have been made homeless. This has caused severe suffering to many Palestinians and violated basic rights enshrined in the International Bill of Rights.
2) Kolot Shalom condemns the dismembering and dishonouring of the bodies of Israeli soldiers by Palestinian militants.
Background information: 13 Israeli soldiers were killed prior to the military operation in Rafah. Palestinian militants dismembered the bodies of several soldiers and attempted to use the repatriation of these bodies as a negotiating point. These actions are clear violations of the Geneva Conventions.
3) Kolot Shalom condemns actions of the Israeli military that are disproportionate and fail to distinguish between civilians and militants.
Background information: At least fifty Palestinians were killed in recent Israeli actions, a number of whom were civilians by all accounts. 10 individuals were killed when a peaceful protest was fired upon. In military actions, Kolot Shalom believes that an army must act in accordance with international law. The actions of the military must not be disproportionate and must seek only to target those involved in military activity. Recent actions of the army appear to have shown scant regard for these principles. They have failed to distinguish between civilians and militants and have caused severe suffering and death to a number of innocent civilians.
The Way Forward
Violent conflict cannot solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and leads to increasing brutality. Kolot Shalom expresses the hope that both Palestinians and Israelis will cease attempting to achieve their political objectives through bloodshed and violence and that they begin a process of reconciliation through negotiation and dialogue. Only in this way can a peaceful and promising future for both peoples be achieved.
For further information about Kolot Shalom, see our web-site and founding statement of principles at www.srcf.ucam.org/kolotshalom
Background Information: Since the beginning of the Intifidah, the Israeli army has destroyed 1,200 houses in Rafah, in the Gaza Strip. This has resulted in 12,000 people becoming homeless, according to the United Nations. In the past week in Rafah, the United Nations estimates that 1600 people have been made homeless. This has caused severe suffering to many Palestinians and violated basic rights enshrined in the International Bill of Rights.
2) Kolot Shalom condemns the dismembering and dishonouring of the bodies of Israeli soldiers by Palestinian militants.
Background information: 13 Israeli soldiers were killed prior to the military operation in Rafah. Palestinian militants dismembered the bodies of several soldiers and attempted to use the repatriation of these bodies as a negotiating point. These actions are clear violations of the Geneva Conventions.
3) Kolot Shalom condemns actions of the Israeli military that are disproportionate and fail to distinguish between civilians and militants.
Background information: At least fifty Palestinians were killed in recent Israeli actions, a number of whom were civilians by all accounts. 10 individuals were killed when a peaceful protest was fired upon. In military actions, Kolot Shalom believes that an army must act in accordance with international law. The actions of the military must not be disproportionate and must seek only to target those involved in military activity. Recent actions of the army appear to have shown scant regard for these principles. They have failed to distinguish between civilians and militants and have caused severe suffering and death to a number of innocent civilians.
The Way Forward
Violent conflict cannot solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and leads to increasing brutality. Kolot Shalom expresses the hope that both Palestinians and Israelis will cease attempting to achieve their political objectives through bloodshed and violence and that they begin a process of reconciliation through negotiation and dialogue. Only in this way can a peaceful and promising future for both peoples be achieved.
For further information about Kolot Shalom, see our web-site and founding statement of principles at www.srcf.ucam.org/kolotshalom
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