10.9.2002
APPEAL FOR A JUST SOLUTION TO THE PALESTINE QUESTION
The Palestinian people have been living in exile and under occupation in their own land for fifty-five years now. During this time, their living space has been reduced and living conditions deteriorated systematically, so that the lack of the most basic living conditions in the occupied territories and refugee camps has reached the scale of a humanitarian catastrophe. The continuing of the Palestine-Israel conflict and oppression of the Palestinians is destructive for the development and stability of the whole region and a deep disgrace to the entire international community.
Now, with a new situation developing in the Middle East, the solution of the Palestine question is once more becoming topical to world leaders on international forums.
We, who have joined in this petition, appeal to parliaments, governments and international organizations to use their influence in achieving a just solution to the conflict. The result must not be built on the goals of the stronger party alone, but must instead fulfil the UN Palestine resolutions entirely and bring the whole West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem under the sovereign rule of the Palestinians. Even this would secure a mere fraction of the land originally owned by the Palestinians, which included virtually all of present-day Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.
The Palestinians must be given hope and confidence in non-violent ways to reach a satisfactory solution. To this end, a strong signal of support and commitment by the international community is needed.
The inhuman harassment, injuring and killing of the Palestinians, the destruction of their property and the cynical provocation of the people to desperate actions must be stopped immediately. The thousands of people arbitrarily arrested and illegally detained without trial in Israeli prisons must be released forthwith.
The humanitarian situation of the refugees must be radically improved, a plan for dismantling the refugee camps and granting the refugees normal civil rights drawn up and the refugees must be allowed to return to Palestine. Sufficient funds must be allocated to allow for Palestinian institutions to be set up and to compensate for the damage and destruction that has taken place during the Israeli occupation.
