On Tuesday, May 8th, 2001, leading members of Peace Now, Netivot Shalom, The Bereaved Family Forum, Meretz, the Labor Party and the Democratic Choice met in Jerusalem to discuss the mobilization of a parliamentary and extra-parliamentary opposition to the Sharon government's hawkish policies. A public campaign in favor of the Egyptian-Jordanian peace initiative was launched.
The PEACE Coalition
We, representatives of the Israeli peace camp, have decided to work together to present an ideological and active alternative to the Sharon government and its policies -- policies that endanger the peace and security of Israel.
The following principles will serve as guidelines for our joint activities:
The framework for a final Palestinian-Israeli accord was delineated in the negotiations conducted between the Barak government and the Palestine Authority. This framework was revealed in the Clinton proposal and was very close to agreement in the course of the Taba talks. The urgent need to end the Israeli occupation in the territories through a resumption of negotiations for a final peace accord is our starting point for an alternative to the policy of the government.
We view the leadership of the Palestine Authority as the only legitimate partner for negotiations. This leadership was the partner for the governments of Rabin, Peres, Netanyahu and Barak in negotiations for a peace agreement through which two states would be created, side-by-side. We view such an agreement as a vital element for the fulfillment of the Zionist vision.
We shall work towards the rebuilding of trust between the two sides, and we call upon our Palestinian counterparts to work together with us.
We demand that Chairman Arafat and the Palestinian leadership do everything to bring about an end to the violence. We demand that the Israeli Government immediately end all building in the settlements and resume, without
preconditions, negotiations aimed at ending the violence, suffering and collective punishment. The Egyptian-Jordanian Initiative, which has been accepted by the Palestinians, constitutes a genuine chance for a cease-fire.
We condemn the despicable statements expressed by circles close to the government and by settler leaders accusing leaders of the peace camp of treason. Expressions of this type led to the murder of Yitzhak Rabin. We shall continue to encourage Israeli-Palestinian dialogue on an informal basis and we shall not be deterred by abuse and threats.
WE DEMAND:
1. A freeze on all building in the settlements as a first step towards ending the violence.
2. Resumption of negotiations on the basis of the Egyptian-Jordanian Initiative
3. Acceptance and implementation of the Mitchell Committee Recommendations
We call upon all parliamentary and extra-parliamentary forces to join the Peace Coalition on the basis of the principles outlined above.
We will to work together to give expression to the broad public that believes in peace and is concerned about our future as a state and as a society.
Signatories: Pepe Alalu, Shulamit Aloni, Dr. Janet Aviad, MK Colette Avital, Gavri Bar Gil,
Col. (ret.) Mordechai Baron, Dr. Yossi Beilin, Betty Benbenisti, Gilad Bennun, Prof. Menahem Brinker,
MK Roman Bronfman, MK Eitan Cabel, MK Naomi Chazan, MK Ran Cohen, MK Yael Dayan, Avi Deutsch,
Ruti Duek, Hanan Erez, Yaron Freidman, Issawi Freij, Yuval Frenkel, Yitzhak Frenkental, MK Zehava Galon,
MK Ilan Gilon, Prof. Galia Golan, Hanoch Goldberg, Prof. Amiram Goldblum, David Grossman, Dan Haruv,
Noam Hoffshteter, Yair Inov, Itai Izinger, MK Hussnia Jabara, Dr. Graham Jackson, Prof. Dan Jacobson,
Nissim Kalderon, Teddy Kolek, Yehudit Korin, Adv. Gaby Lasky, Hanita Lauper-Fisher, Rohale Maayan, Yaakov Manor, MK Anat Maor, Meir Margalit, Prof. Avishai Margalit, MK Nawaf Masalha, Tuvia Metzer, Sammy Michael, Eitan Michaeli, Roham Nimri, Dr. David Ohana, Yariv Oppenheimer, Haim Oron, Liad Ortar, Yisraela Parush,
MK Ofir Pines, Eilon Poturgaly, Dr. Ron Pundak, MK Mossi Raz, Didi Remez, Adv. Tzaly Reshef, Arnon Ronen,
MK Amnon Rubinstein, Eli Safran, Hemi Sal, MK Yossi Sarid, Yael Shevek, Moria Shlomot, Michal Shohat,
David Shporer, Prof. Emmanuel Sivan, Prof. Yitzhak Schnell, Natasha Snitivker, Irena Steinfeldt, Prof. Zeev Sternhal, Youval Tamari, Prof. Yuli Tamir, Yair Tzaban, Prof. Edna Ullmann-Margalit, MK Avshalom Vilan, Aliza Zutra
Further Information:
Press: Didi Remez, Peace Now Spokesperson, 972-54-302796 or
Others: Moria Shlomot, Director of Peace Now, 972-54-322834 or
