PRESS
ADVISORY
MAY
3,
2002
New
York,
NY......
Four
American
Zionist
organizations,
Meretz
USA
(aligned
with
the
Meretz-Democratic
Israel
Party
in
Israel),
Hashomer
Hatzair,
Habonim
Dror,
and
the
Labor
Zionist
Alliance
(aligned
with
the
Labor
Party
in
Israel)
announced
today
a
public
gathering
and
march
from
the
Israeli
Consulate
(at
42nd
Street
and
Second
Avenue)
to
the
Palestinian
Authority's
UN
mission
on
East
65th
Street
for
1
PM,
Saturday,
May
11.
The
event
is
being
held
in
parallel
with
and
in
support
of
a
major
rally
of
the
Peace
Coalition
in
Israel
which
is
meeting
at
8
PM
at
the
Rabin
Plaza
in
Tel
Aviv.
Addressing
the
assembly
in
New
York
will
be
Meretz
Member
of
Knesset,
Ran
Cohen.
An
Israeli
reserve
colonel
and
long-time
peace
activist,
he
is
Israel's
former
Minister
of
Industry
and
Trade
in
the
Barak
Government.
Iraqi
born,
Cohen
has
been
outspoken
as
a
member
of
the
official
opposition
party,
Meretz,
in
calling
for
Israel
to
engage
the
Palestinians
in
a
serious
political
process
leading
to
peace
and
security
for
both
sides.
The
organizers
of
the
assembly
on
May
11
issued
the
following
statement:
"We
are
assembling
in
coordination
with
our
brothers
and
sisters
in
Israel
to
voice
our
profound
commitment
to
the
people
and
State
of
Israel,
and
to
the
concept
that
peace
must
be
pursued
through
an
end
to
terrorism
and
suicide
bombing,
and
immediate
steps
to
end
Israel's
occupation
of
the
West
Bank
and
Gaza.
We
believe
that
the
Bush
Administration
must
do
everything
in
its
power
to
separate
the
combatants
and
help
protect
innocents
on
both
sides,
including,
if
necessary,
the
interposition
of
an
American,
or
American-led
presence,"
said
Jeremiah
S.
Gutman,
President
of
Meretz
USA;
Jamie
Levin,
National
Director
of
Habonim
Dror;
Moran
Banai,
National
Director
of
Hashomer
Hatzair;
and
Jeffrey
Mallow,
President
of
the
Labor
Zionist
Alliance.
"Israel's immediate safety and long-term security lies in a swift return to a political process leading to the establishment of a demilitarized Palestinian State ready to live in peace with Israel. The basic shape of such a Palestinian state is set out in UN resolution 242 which requires Israel to cede almost all of the West Bank and Gaza save for necessary border and security adjustments. The parties have, in previous negotiations, proven that mutual compromises on the status of Jerusalem and creative solutions to the refugee question are well within reach. We look to the Palestinians to make clear, in word and deed, that a political solution mindful of Israel's security needs is their objective and solemn commitment. We also call upon Saudi Arabia and the Arab League to demonstrate their genuine commitment to implementing their recent declaration in Beirut promising normal relations with Israel with the resolution of the Palestinian conflict and Israel's negotiated return of the Golan Heights. "In sum," the statement of the four leaders said, "despite the terrible events of recent months, we believe that peace is not only necessary, but also possible. The effort must begin now, and on May 11, we will stand before Israel's Consulate and the Palestinian UN Mission to say that they must begin to rebuild the foundations of peace now."