[Peace-discuss] Americans' Call for Immediate Ceasefire in Lebanon

[Robert Naiman]

Just Foreign Policy has created an online petition, in the form of an
open letter to President Bush, calling for an immediate ceasefire in
Lebanon. We have no dispute with any other online petition calling for
an immediate ceasefire. The link is

http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/justforeignpolicy.org/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=320

Please forward as appropriate.

Dear American Supporter of Peace, Diplomacy, and International Cooperation:

Please join us in signing the following open letter to President Bush
calling for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon.

Dear President Bush:

As Americans, we support the right of people everywhere to be secure
in their homes and communities, free from the fear of falling bombs
and falling rockets. We are very disappointed by your apparent
decision, as indicated by U.S. and European press reports, to support
the Israeli government's bombing of civilian targets in Lebanon and
Gaza, using U.S. - supplied weapons, in violation of U.S. law. The
Guardian reports that the US has blocked efforts for an immediate halt
to the fighting, and has given Israel a"green light" to continue
bombing Lebanon. The Washington Post reports that you have "endorsed
Israel's campaign" and that your administration is "letting Israel's
military strategy play out." The New York Times reports that your
Administration has agreed that Israel "would continue to bombard
Lebanon for another week or so."

We reject any claim that such actions by Israel or the U.S. are
morally acceptable and we reject any claim that they make Israelis or
Americans more secure; as Senator Warner noted, thousands of Americans
are directly threatened by the conflict, and, predictably, the
escalating conflict has brought death and serious injury to Israeli
civilians who otherwise would be alive and well today.

We urgently appeal to you to change your position and to do everything
in your power to bring about an immediate ceasefire, including the
cessation of Israeli bombing, the cessation of Hizbullah and Hamas
rocket attacks on Israeli cities and towns, the release of prisoners
held by the Israeli government and armed militias, and international
assistance to the governments in Lebanon and Gaza to secure their
borders with Israel and to reconstruct from the Israeli bombing
campaigns.

--
Robert Naiman
Just Foreign Policy
www.justforeignpolicy.org