Peace in the Middle EastAs Senator from New York, I would press for an even-handed approach to the conflict seeking justice for Palestinians and security for Israelis. The United States must unequivocally state that there will be no peace in Israel/Palestine so long as the Palestinian people are being deprived of the most elementary human rights and subjected to a never-ending process whose intended outcome can only be their complete dispossession from their homes and expulsion from their homeland. For this is the principal stimulus to their armed struggle. If we do not address this core problem, and what has fed into it, there will be no end of violence and suffering. Not just the Palestinian people will be destroyed in the process: Israel itself will continue its internal process of moral disintegration, and its own destruction will follow. The Greens affirm the right of self-determination for both Palestinians and Israelis, which precludes the self-determination of one at the expense of the other. I urge both sides to respect and support the rights and security needs of the other. The US Should Call for a Halt to Israeli Attacks in Gaza and Lebanon Further, I would urge that immediate face-to-face meetings be set up between Israel and a unified Palestinian leadership to attempt a resolution of the basic causes of hostility. I urge both sides to refrain from using violence against one another and for Israel to immediately end its illegal occupation of Palestinian territory. While the Greens oppose the use of violence as a political strategy, we should recognize that international law permits the Palestinians the right to resist the Occupation. We should also recognize Hamas' belligerent tone for what it is, a bargaining chip that they feel compelled to use after nearly four decades of a military occupation of Palestinian territory and the repeated failure of Israel to reciprocate to Fatah's many concessions to Israeli demands. We should acknowledge that Hamas exercised restraint by observing a cease-fire for more than a year until recently. The Israelis did not reciprocate and observe that cease fire. NO Funding For Israel's Occupation Green party recognized right of both Israelis and Palestinians to self-determination. But the US is anyhing but even-handed. We give more aid ($3 billion per year) to Israel than any other nation. I oppose extending US financial and military support to Israel while it continues to occupy Palestinian lands in violation of numerous UN Security Council resolutions. Drop Veto of UN Resolutions We demand that the U.S. government end its veto of Security Council resolutions pertaining to Israel. We urge our government to join with the U.N. to secure the withdrawal of Israel to the 1967 boundaries and to withhold its grants and loans Recognize Democratic Government The US Should Recognize Newly Elected Palestinian Government. Support Resumption of Direct Negotiations Don't Build Wall Unlike my opponent, Hillary Clinton, I oppose the construction of the apartheid wall by the Israeli government, often on Palestinian land. Don't unilaterally redraw boundaries I also urge the Bush administration and the Israeli government to not unilaterally redraw the boundaries between Israel and Palestine and to immediately begin good faith negotiations with the Palestinian leadership, including representatives of the Hamas government. Stop Economic Sanctions Howie Hawkins |