al-Nakba: the Palestinian "Catastrophe"

RACHEL CORRIE HONORARY MEMBERSHIP

On March 16, 2003, Rachel Corrie became the first U.S. citizen to shed her own blood on Palestinian soil in Gaza, while trying to prevent an Israeli army bulldozer from destroying a Palestinian home.

We honor Rachel for the ideals of justice, fairness and peace she literally stood for, right up to the moment of her death.

We honor Rachel for the qualities we would emulate; love, compassion, commitment, courage.

We honor Rachel because we need her example to strengthen our own resolve in the pursuit of peace and justice and fairness for all.

Therefore VFP assembled in national convention in San Francisco does hereby bestow honorary membership posthumously on Rachel Corrie.

Proposed by Arnie Welber, approved by Board of Directors May 10, 2003

Whereas the conflict between Palestine and Israel continues to threaten the security and safety of the Middle East and

Whereas the presence of Israel is protected and ensured by the economic, military and political aid provided by the United States and

Whereas the military and financial support of one party over another, in hostilities of this long duration does not serve the interests of peace

Therefore in the recognition of the absolute need for Palestine and Israel to co-exist in peace, Veterans for Peace calls for the United States government:

1-to support full U.N. statehood for the nation of Palestine

2-to provide the necessary aid and assistance for the state of Palestine to survive and prosper

3-to support U.N. efforts for the return of Israel to its 1967 borders as called for in Resolution 242

4-to support the establishment of an independent Palestinian state in the now occupied territories

Proposed by Gene Glazer - Chapter 21 North Jersey

Approved at VFP convention, August 7, 2003
San Francisco, California

WHEREAS there is a House Concurrent Resolution (H. CON. RES. 111) which

"...calls on the United States Government to undertake a full, fair, and expeditious investigation into the death of Rachel Corrie..." and

WHEREAS H. CON. RES. 111 is currently stalled in the House Committee on

International Relations, and

WHEREAS Rachel Corrie was made an honorary member of Veterans for Peace

at its 2003 National Convention.

BE IT RESOLVED that Veterans for Peace calls for an independent

investigation into the death of Rachel Corrie.

Submitter: Cliff Wells

Endorsed By: VFP Chapter 92, June 19, 2004

RESOLUTION ON PALESTINE-ISRAEL CONFLICT

Whereas it has been the long standing position of Veterans For Peace that a just and lasting peace between Palestine and Israel must be based upon the Palestinian peoples national right to an independent state and Israel’s right to a secure existence, and

Whereas the construction of the barrier wall on Palestinian land by the Sharon government is counter-productive to the above stated goal, and

Whereas the International Court of Justice has ruled that the wall being built on Palestinian land is a "de facto annexation" and is illegal;

Therefore VFP calls for:

1-The immediate removal of the wall from all Palestinian lands

2-dismantlement of all Israeli settlements on the West Bank and Gaza

3-the end to the military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza by the Israeli Defense Force

4-The return of Israel to its 1967 borders as mandated by UN resolution 242

5-Internationally supervised negotiations for the creation of an independent Palestinian state and all related issues of security and the refugees "right to return"

Additionally, Veterans For Peace expresses our solidarity with those Israeli military personnel who have taken a stand of conscience and refuse to participate in the occupation of Palestine.

Passed August 6, 2005

WHEREAS Veterans For Peace is dedicated to the cause of world peace and to seeking justice for the victims of war; and,

WHEREAS the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a major flashpoint in international affairs; and,

WHEREAS the people of the region continue to suffer because of the prolonged militarization of the conflict; and,

WHEREAS the United States is the largest single source of governmental and non-governmental financial assistance to Israel; and

WHEREAS all forms of international intervention and peace-making have until now failed to bring about compliance on the part of the Israeli government with international law as embodied in countless UN resolutions and world court decisions; and

WHEREAS such compliance would be in the interest of both the Palestinian and Israeli people, irrespective of the position of the Israeli government, and

WHEREAS the demand for such compliance underlies the historic VFP support for peace activists within Israel in opposition to their government’s policies

Therefore, inspired by the model of the South African struggle against apartheid and the international solidarity which made it effective, and in support for the call by more than 170 Palestinian political parties, unions, associations, coalitions, and organizations for such economic actions,

BE IT RESOLVED that Veterans For Peace calls for boycott, divestment, and other actions against economic activities that support Israel’s continued occupation and colonization of Palestinian lands and the denial of fundamental human rights to Palestinians both in Israel and in the occupied territories; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that such actions be continued until such time as the Government of Israel complies with international law and the universal principles of human rights; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that Veterans For Peace urges its members and chapters to work actively to support such boycotts, divestment, and economic actions which seem to them best calculated to bring about a change in Israeli government policy for the benefit of both the Israeli and Palestinian people.

From: Michelle J. Kinnucan, Member VFP Chapter 093

Whereas Veterans for Peace is an organization which strives for Peace, Justice, and self-determination throughout the world, including the Middle East, and

Whereas Veterans for Peace has consistently opposed US intervention in the internal affairs of foreign countries since its inception, and

Whereas Veterans for Peace is an organization that cherishes democracy,

Therefore, let it be resolved that Veterans for Peace, Inc will sign to the petition started by the US CAMPAIGN TO END THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION opposing the anti-democratic and anti-Palestinian HR4681, THE PALESTINIAN ANTI-TERRORISM ACT OF 2006 as soon as possible.

(Scott Satterwhite, Pensacola Chapter, Veterans for Peace)

Whereas the human costs of the current conflict in Lebanon have been overwhelming,

And whereas Hezbollah fighters continue to fire rockets at cities in northern Israel and while ground combat is takes place in southern Lebanon,

And whereas the totally disproportionate use of force and violence and the indiscriminate destruction of infrastructure by the IDF is a clear violation of international prohibitions against collective punishment and injunctions to protect civilian lives and property,

Therefore be it resolved that Veterans For Peace universally condemns the targeting of civilians by both sides and calls for the United States Government to support an immediate cease-fire and promote negotiations involving all concerned parties to resolve all border disputes and prisoner release issues.

Whereas the occupation of Lebanese territory by the Israeli Defense Forces constitutes a clear violation of the sovereignty of Lebanon,

Therefore be it resolved that Veterans for Peace calls for the United States Government to use the diplomatic and economic means at its disposal to secure a removal of IDF forces from Lebanese territory.

A resolution on Gaza is not in order because the 2004 convention approved a resolution which included the following:

Whereas the International Court of Justice has ruled that the wall being built on

Palestinian land is a "de facto annexation" and is illegal;

Therefore VFP calls for:

1-The immediate removal of the wall from all Palestinian lands

2-dismantlement of all Israeli settlements on the West Bank and Gaza

3-the end to the military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza by the Israeli Defense Force

4-The return of Israel to its 1967 borders as mandated by UN resolution 242

5-Internationally supervised negotiations for the creation of an independent Palestinian state and all related issues of security and the refugees "right to return"

Approved by the Board 8/16/07
Approved by the Annual Meeting 8/18/07

WHEREAS, it has long been the position of Veterans for Peace, expressed through numerous prior Convention Resolutions, that the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict must be resolved in a manner in which both Palestinian and Israeli states co-exist in peace, and

WHEREAS, in order to achieve this objective, Israel must withdraw from the occupied territories to mutually agreed to borders with the future Palestinian state in return for peace, and

WHEREAS, the Arab League has offered to negotiate with Israel, on the basis of its 2002 proposal, for Israeli withdrawal from the occupied territories to mutually agreed to borders for the future Palestinian state, the establishment of the Palestinian state and a mutually agreed to solution to the issue of re-settlement of Palestinian refugees, in return for peace with and diplomatic recognition of Israel.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, Veterans for Peace shall support and encourage the efforts of the Arab League to negotiate a solution to the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict in which both Palestinian and Israeli states co-exist in peace and the issue of re-settlement of Palestinian refugees is resolved by mutual agreement.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the President and Members of the Board of Directors of Veterans for Peace shall draft a letter to the representatives of the Arab League, expressing the support of Veterans for Peace for the efforts of the Arab League to negotiate a peaceful solution to the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict.

Submitted by Mike Woloshin, Chapter President, Chicago Area VFP Chapter 26