Gush Shalom.html |
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Gush Shalom (Hebrew: גוש שלום, "the Peace Bloc") is a peace activist group which sees itself as the hardcore of Israeli peace movement.12 Gush Shalom is an extra-parliamentary organization, independent of any party or other political grouping. Some of its activists do belong to political parties, but the Gush is not aligned to any particular party, though the San Francisco Chronicle once described it in passing as "left-wing"3.
The Gush was founded by former MK and journalist Uri Avnery in 1993 because he was disappointed by other Israeli peace movements such as Peace Now. Avnery still leads the group. Gush Shalom objects to what they perceive as the illegal Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and claims Israel is committing war crimes on a daily basis. They also support a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine question, with the 1967 border between Israel and Palestine, and with Jerusalem as the capital of both states.4
The movement supports soldiers' refusal to serve in the West Bank or Gaza strip, a pragmatic implementation of Palestinian right of return, and an Israeli withdrawal to the Green Line. Gush Shalom activists regularly confront Israeli security forces in construction sites in settlements in the West Bank and Gaza, and along the Separation Barrier. Gush Shalom said that Israel's offer to Yasser Arafat in the Camp David negotiations of 2000 was not a "generous offer" but "a humiliating demand for surrender."56 Avnery was among the first to meet and negotiate with PLO leader Yasser Arafat. In 2001 the organisation made a peace proposal on the basis of a two-state solution with the 1967 boundaries.7 Gush Shalom received the Right Livelihood Award in 2001.8
References
- ^ "How Israel Can Regain the Road to Peace". New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-17.
- ^ "Middle East Roadmap". Daily Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-17.
- ^ "Court has Israel feeling uneasy". sfgate.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-17. "The left-wing Gush Shalom, or Peace Bloc, recently sent letters to 15 battalion and brigade commanders of the Israel Defense Forces saying it was gathering evidence of alleged army abuses that it might present to the court."
- ^ Gush Shalom statement of aims
- ^ Barak's Generous Offer. Maps of Barak's offer to Arafat at the 2000 Camp David talks.
- ^ "Gush Shalom: Israel not without blame for Hamas takeover". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved on 2008-03-17.
- ^ Le Monde Diplomatique 10 August 2001 (in French)
- ^ "Right Livelihood Award: Home". www.rightlivelihood.org. Retrieved on 2008-03-17.