A rallying call for the June 4 demonstration in Tel Aviv
against Netanyahu’s policy to perpetuate the occupation
The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Israel (CPI) published an announcement on May 27, 2011 calling for all peace-seekers, Jews and Arabs, to attend the rally in Tel Aviv on June 4, and demonstrate unanimous proof that there is a broad opposition in Israel to Netanyahu’s catastrophic rejectionist policies, as well as broad support for the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state within all of the territories occupied since 1967, alongside Israel.
The announcement of the Communist Party of Israel’s political bureau stated as follows:
The speeches by Prime Minister Netanyahu in the Knesset and in the United States Congress have proved once again that he prefers to perpetuate the settlements and the condition of occupation rather than create an opportunity for reaching a peace agreement with the Palestinian people. Behind his beguiling words, Netanyahu revealed himself again to be the pro-occupation leader of Israel’s right wing, who opposes retreat to the June 1967 lines, and plans to annex large parts of the West Bank under the ruse of “national and security needs”; who opposes establishing two capitals – an Israeli and Palestinian one – in Jerusalem; who rejects any solution to the Palestinian refugee problem on the basis of UN resolutions; and who hopes that a new military adventure will remove the dismantling of settlements from the agenda. Netanyahu proved again that his talk about a “Palestinian State” is no more than a rhetorical ploy, which is intended to reduce the increasing international pressure on Israel to retreat from all of the territories occupied in 1967.
In his speeches, Netanyahu again brandished the military option against Iran, a scenario that could throw the region into the chaos and destruction of a missile war. He repeated his threats even after the outgoing chief of the Mossad, Meir Dagan, published an unusual warning about the dangerous implications of a military adventure targeting Iran.
Despite Netanyahu’s extreme statements, which close the door on the possibility of renewing political negotiations with the PLO, President Obama prefers to toe the familiar American line of unequivocal support of the Israeli establishment positions. Obama has de facto embraced Israeli rejectionism toward the dismantling of settlements and the division of Jerusalem, and toward the anticipated recognition of the UN General Assembly of an independent Palestinian State within the 1967 borders. The President’s response has utterly given lie to the illusion that the U.S. administration will impose a political agreement on Israel, and to the illusion that Netanyahu is prepared to take a step toward establishing a viable peace agreement.
CPI’s political bureau emphasizes that Netanyahu is intensifying his threats toward Israel’s democratic sphere. In his speech in the Knesset (on May 23, 2011), Netanyahu declared that the problem on the table is not the existence of Palestine, but the existence of Israel. “We are fighting for our lives” – he announced. Turning the political problem on it’s head is intended not only to negate the establishment of an independent Palestine alongside Israel, but also to demonize all those who support the establishment of a Palestinian state in the 1967 lines, by presenting them as abdicating responsibility for the lives of Israeli citizens. This constitutes outright incitement, preparing the ground for ratcheting up the persecution of peace activists in Israel.
But the forces of the peace camp in Israel, unlike Netanyahu, are not illusionists. They are encouraged by the broadening international support for the important Palestinian effort to receive international recognition of a state within the 1967 lines, and are shouldering this effort.
CPI and its partners in the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality (Hadash) will rally together at the June 4th demonstration with the diverse forces for peace in Israel, in order to bring forth a voice of hope for the Israeli people, the peoples of the region and the peoples of the world. Hadash will also present its plan for a comprehensive and stable peace in the region centered on recognition of a Palestinian state in the borders of June 4, 1967, two capitals in Jerusalem, dismantling of settlements, and a resolution to the refugee problem in accordance with UN resolution.
CPI’s political bureau expresses its deep appreciation for the dedicated members taking action to build coalitions for a successful demonstration on June 4.
