Statement on the Middle East Crisis

As the Socialist Party USA's candidate for US Senate in New Jersey, I strongly condemn the Israeli assault on Lebanon and the invasion of Lebanon's southern cities. The invasion has already caused the deaths of over 300 Lebanese civilians, one-third reportedly children, and has destroyed infrastructure and homes.

Israel must also be condemned for its reoccupation of Gaza, the harm to civilian Palestinians in Gaza, and the massive damage to infrastructure it has done there as well. There must be an immediate cease-fire by Israel and Hezbollah, and Israel must also withdraw all troops from Lebanon and Gaza as the first step to ending this crisis.

Israel has a long track record of reckless and violent actions against its neighbors. The current military assault on Lebanon and the violence against the Palestinian people in Gaza only illustrate that point. This violence is made worse by the United State's continued support of Israel and our vetoing of any United Nations resolutions critical of it.

The current Middle-East crisis is a clear by-product of the United States foreign policy and our invasion and occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq and hostility toward Iran and Syria.

The US government and the international community must call on Israel to withdraw from all occupied lands in Syria and Lebanon, to withdraw to its 1967 borders, and to dismantle all settlements and its illegal Security Wall. We must end our continuous support of Israeli hostility toward its neighbors, and we must show courage and condemn these actions.

As Israel continues its invasion and occupation, I refuse to head the call to "stand with Israel," and it sickens me to hear Senator Menendez continue to make excuses for Israel's actions.

I applaud the Israeli Army "refusenicks" who have refused to take part in this unjust war against Lebanon and Palestinians in Gaza, and I applaud the small but vocal peace movement in Israel. I also stand with the innocent Lebanese and Palestinian people who have suffered because of Israel's bombing and the innocent Israeli citizens whose homes have been hit by Hezbollah rockets.

I call for the divestment from, and boycott of, the State of Israel until the full and collective rights of the Palestinian people are realized, and UN resolutions met, including the right to return. I hope Senator Menendez and the rest of our representatives can join me in that call.

Greg Pason
Socialist Party USA candidate for US Senate
www.votepason.org

http://votepason.org/statements/middleeastcrisis.html