Stop occupation and settlements in Palestine

Postdate: 26/ 06/ 2009

The Citizens’ Constitutional Forum (CCF) has joined civil society organisations and overseas governments in calling for Israel to immediately cease the building of new Jewish settler homes in the Palestine territories of Gaza .

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu had recently endorsed the existence of a Palestinian state, along with an Israeli state, after pressure from US President Barrack Obama. However, Palestinians and international community alike have denounced the pronouncements by Netanyahu, as reported on Al Jazeera news website, that Israel “had no intention of building new settlements or of expropriating additional land for existing settlements”, but that he will allow for “natural growth ” within existing settlements.

“Israel needs to show its commitment to the existence of a free Palestine state,” CCF Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rev Akuila Yabaki said. “The only way Israel can show genuine commitment to a two-state peaceful solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, is by stopping any expansion of settlements.”

CCF joins President Obama’s call, supported by France, for a genuine commitment to peace in Palestine. CCF calls on the US to suspend all aid to Israel, if Israel continues its occupation, settlement and expansion into Palestine, in defiance of international law and United Nations Resolutions.

“We need peace in Palestine as a first step towards lasting peace in the Middle East,” Rev Yabaki said.

The international community considers all settlements in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, which Israel seized in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, to be illegal.

For further information, contact CCF on ph: 3308379 or fax: 3308380.

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Rev Akuila Yabaki

Chief Executive Officer