Excerp: From The U.S. Veterans For Peace on Current Conflict

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STOP THE KILLING! CEASE-FIRE NOW!

Veterans For Peace Statement on the Fighting in Lebanon-Gaza-Israel

After 2 Israeli soldiers were captured in a July 12 border raid by Hezbollah
guerillas, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) response has been a massive air
and land assault and sea blockade against the whole country and people of
Lebanon.

The human costs have been overwhelming. At this writing, 542 people, mainly
civilians, are confirmed dead and Lebanon's health minister estimates the
number killed to be over 750, including those bodies not yet recovered. More
than 750,000 Lebanese citizens have been forced to flee their homes as
refugees.

In retaliation, Hezbollah fighters have been firing rockets at cities in
northern Israel and ground combat is taking place in southern Lebanon. So
far 33 Israeli soldiers have died in fighting and 18 civilians have lost
their lives from rocket attacks. The number of wounded on both sides remains
unknown.

Veterans For Peace universally condemns the targeting of civilians by both
sides and calls for an IMMEDIATE CEASE-FIRE and for negotiations involving
all concerned parties to resolve all border disputes and prisoner release
issues and to establish a secure, demilitarized border between the two
countries.

However we cannot ignore the unjustified and totally disproportionate use of
force and violence by the IDF. The Hezbollah incursion was a provocation but
the massive Israeli response is nothing less than full-scale aggression
against the entire Lebanese people.

Israeli attacks have taken place against airports, roads and bridges,
communication, power, oil storage and other basic infrastructure facilities
throughout the country as well as residential areas in major cities. The
entire population of southern Lebanon has been ordered to leave the area as
it is being turned into a "free fire zone".

As this offensive is taking place, the IDF is continuing their "second
front" attacks against the Palestinian people in Gaza, targeting elected
officials, government institutions, villages and refugee camps in their hunt
for "terrorists".

As US citizens we find it shameful that, for the first time in our history,
our government has refused to call for an end to hostilities and continues
to openly fan the flames of war. Secretary of State Rice has repeatedly said
that it is "too early" to stop the killing. The Pentagon has rushed new
shipments of laser and satellite guided bombs to Israel to continue
their assault. Both Houses of Congress voted overwhelmingly to support
Israel's war.

It is no wonder that the United States is being condemned in the Middle East
and throughout the world as an accomplice to aggression.

This is the wrong direction that the Bush administration has taken our
country. What is happening in Lebanon cannot be separated from the illegal
and unjust invasion and occupation of Iraq. Believing that "war is the
answer" they have encouraged and abetted others to follow that same bloody
course.

As a result, the flames of death and destruction are raging even higher in
the Middle East today. In spite of ringing rhetoric from the White House
about "creating a new, democratic Middle East", US and Israeli military
actions are only creating more pain, anger and resistance.

It is the time for the United States to change course and the first step is
to support an immediate cease-fire and an end to the killing.

July 31, 2006

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