05 May 2006

LET MORDECHAI VANUNU GO...

Proposals to end the war between Israel and Palestine

by Mairead Corrigan Maguire

On leaving Israel/Palestine today, Mairead Corrigan Maguire, Nobel Peace
Laureate, who has spent the last 10 days in Israel-Palestine campaigning for
an end to the detention of Mordechai Vanunu, said:

"I believe it is sad and shameful that the Israeli Government continues to
detain Mordechai Vanunu for this the 20 year of his internal exile within
Israel. He has no secrets. He is no threat to Israeli security. I
therefore call upon the Israel Government to uphold Mordechai Vanunu's human
rights to freedom of speech and freedom of movement and let him go.

I also support his call for a Nuclear Free Israel, Middle East and world and
call upon the Israeli Government to open Dimona for inspection, and to sign
the Nuclear Non-proliferation treaty.

During my visit I have travelled to Jenin Refugee Camp, Hebron, and
Bethlehem in the Israeli Occupied Territories. I have witnessed the daily
suffering of the Palestinian people living under an increasing and worsening
oppressive Israeli occupation.

I believe there is a great desire for peace amongst all the people, but in
order to move into serious dialogue and negotiations urgent steps, and the
political will; particularly from the Israeli Government, need to be taken.
I therefore make the following Appeal:

l) I call upon the International Community, European Community, the United
States of America, to intervene to end the 40 year occupation by Israel and
to end the Palestinian suffering in Palestinian camps for 60 years. The
International Community must not be intimidated and silenced by threats of
being anti-Semitic or anti-Israeli, but must be bold in demanding Israel
upholds it obligations under International Law.

2) The way for peace must be for Israel to end the occupation and recognize
and respect all the national and international human rights of the
Palestinian people.

3) I call upon the Palestinian people to use the methods of Jesus Christ,
Badshan Khan, Gandhi, Martin Luther King of nonviolent resistance to the
occupation and apartheid system, which continues to cause so much suffering
to their people. And for the International Community to support such a
nonviolent resistance by the Palestinian people.

4) I call upon the Israeli Government to uphold International Court of
Justice and dismantle the Apartheid wall, and the Apartheid system of
injustice. To recognize the democratically elected Government of the
Palestinian people and enter into serious dialogue with their new 'partner
for peace'.

5) I call upon Israeli Government, European Union, United State, to restore
Foreign Aid as the withdrawing of this, is in effect. a collective
punishment of the Palestinian people, many of whom already live under great
poverty and hardship, due to the continuing illegal occupation and
colonization of the Palestinian Territories.

6) I call upon all Israeli and Palestinian people to continue to hope and
believe and act for peace, and to do everything in their power to begin to
build trust and friendship amongst each other. Nuclear Weapons, militarism,
and emergency laws will not build trust, but overcome the fear of each
other, and continuing the great work already being done by both Israeli and
Palestinian peace activists, and many others, will bring peace. The Israeli
Government can help this process by making it possible for people to
actually meet each other, and build a grassroots peace movement together.

I have great hopes for both Israeli-Palestinian and leave strengthened and
upheld by the love and affection I have received from my many Israeli and
Palestinian Friends.

Shalom/Salam,

Mrs Mairead Corrigan Maguire