Dear friends,
President Obama just made a remarkable speech in Egypt, committing personally to building peace in the Middle East. Unexpectedly, his first move is to directly challenge the new right-wing government of America's ally Israel
-- pressing them to stop their self-destructive policy of settlements
(illegal colonies set up on territory recognised by the US and the
world as Palestinian).
This is a moment of rare crisis and opportunity. Obama’s bold strategy is facing powerful opposition, so he’s going to need help around the world in the coming days and weeks to strengthen his resolve. Let’s start right now -- by raising a massive global chorus behind Obama’s statement that the settlements in occupied territory must stop.
We’ll advertise the number of signatures in key newspapers in Israel,
as well as in Washington DC (where some are trying to undermine Obama in the US Congress). Read Obama’s words now and add your signature to them at the link below, then forward this email to friends and family so they can do the same:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/obama_stop_settlements/45.php
There is broad agreement that the settlements are a significant barrier
to peace, a view also shared by a silent majority of the Israeli
public. Combined with a network of roadblocks and barriers, these
colonies now blanket the West Bank, seizing territory and forcing
Palestinians to live effectively as prisoners in smaller and smaller
pockets (see map at right).
Until this problem is tackled, it seems impossible to build a viable
Palestinian state or any kind of lasting peace. For Arab states
deciding what more they themselves can do for peace, stopping the
settlements has become a crucial test of Israel’s seriousness.
We’ll need to urge the other parties to take bold steps too. If we can
help Obama to stay the course on settlements, shift Israeli policy and
encourage the Palestinians and key Arab states also to stretch out
their hands, a new beginning for the Middle East is possible.
But none of this will happen without a growing global movement of
citizens taking action to support it. Read Obama’s words, add your
signature and spread the word today:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/obama_stop_settlements/45.php
With hope and determination,
the Avaaz team