Dear Friends: Britain Yearly Meeting has just published an amazing statement encouraging the recognition of Palestine as a state and an arms embargo on all sides. Can Friends in the US do something similar? We could start by supporting AFSC’s work in this area. (See: http://afsc.org/resource/gaza-under-siege.) Here are excerpts from BYM’s call to recognize Palestine:
“Quakers in Britain are calling for urgent action on Gaza. They urge the UK Government to recognize Palestine as a nation state; they call for a comprehensive arms embargo on all sides in the conflict and for an end to Israel’s blockade of Gaza and occupation of Palestine. . . .
“As part of their commitment to peacemaking, Quakers continue to challenge anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. . . . A key motivation for Yearly Meeting is valuing all life. . . . The conflict between the Palestinians and the Israelis will only be resolved when Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territory is ended and the inherent equality, worth, and dignity of all is realized.
“Peace-building is a long and demanding path to take. . . .
We long for – and will work for – a time when the fear experienced on all sides is replaced by a sense of security.”
To read more, see: www.quaker.org.uk/news
– David Hartsough, San Francisco Meeting (PYM)