The victory of Ariel Sharon in the elections for Israeli Prime Minister on 6 February has cast yet another dark cloud over the chances for peace in the Middle East. The election of a man with such a violent, reckless and bloody past will do nothing to encourage a climate of trust between Israelis and Palestinians.
The Council remains extremely concerned about the safety and security of Palestinians both in the Occupied Territories and inside Israel. Nearly 350 Palestinians have been killed since 28 September 2000, and over 11,000 injured and the likelihood is that Mr Sharon will continue Ehud Barak's policy of using lethal force against Palestinians. Without an improvement in their living conditions, without lifting the closures, curfews, blockades, roadblocks, there will be no end to this sorry cycle of violence. Security for Israelis must not used as a smokescreen for further repression and escalation of the conflict. Security will come from genuine efforts to live in peace and co-existence. Similarly, tensions between the Jewish and Arab citizens of Israel will only recede once the Israeli government ends its discrimination against its non-Jewish minority.
Chances for peace must also not be eroded by further expansion of settlements and confiscation of Palestinian land. Both the Labour and Likud parties have proved themselves to be champion settlement builders, and the sheer absence of international and especially British criticism of this is extremely worrying. A freeze on settlement expansion is an immediate necessity, regardless of who is in power in Israel.
The Council reiterates its call to the international community to live up to its legal and moral obligations to protect the 2.5 million Palestinians living under military occupation, whilst implementing UN Resolutions. A failure to act and demonstrate that Israel is not above the law could have massive repercussions for the entire region. 7 February 2001
For further information, please contact Chris Doyle at the CAABU Information Office -020 7373 8414 - Fax: 020 7835 2088 e-mail caabu@arab-british.u-net.com www.caabu.org