International dialogue must replace the spiral of violence in the Middle East

Statement regarding the Middle East from MS’ general assembly on the 17th of September 2006

The escalation of war and violence in the Middle East is very disturbing. The number of civilian casualties goes up daily in Palestine and Iraq. In Lebanon, a million people have been put to flight after Israel’s bombings and thousands of people have hade to live in air raid shelters in northern Israel due to Hezbollah’s rocket attacks. In Lebanon, large parts of the country’s infra structure have been destroyed and perspectives are sad. The possibility of peace and political development based on international law and values of justice, democracy and human rights is decreasing day by day.

The spiral of violence in the Middle East is part of an increase in the conflict between the so-called West and the Middle East. MS distances itself from this increased conflict. There are other possibilities! 

The fight for democracy and justice cannot be won with missiles or bombs and is under no circumstance a worthy fight between the West and the Middle East. The conflict is about politics and economy – about power – but the states are responsible for protecting ordinary people who are paying the price and this all to often with their lives.

MS believes that Denmark has a special obligation to work for peace and stability in the Middle East. Not only because Denmark has been part of the illegal war on Iraq and is now a part of the occupying power in Iraq.

Denmark has co-responsibility for stopping the escalation of the conflicts between the West and the Middle East. Both as a member of the EU and the UN Security Council, the Danish Government has the possibility of creating the changes it takes if peace and stability should also take root in the Middle East and if the basis for global terror is to be fought.

As a member of the UN Security Council, the Government has an obvious chance of and a direct responsibility to contribute to a solution in the conflict between Israel and Palestine who are the core in the continued conflicts and the lack of democratic development in the whole region. A peaceful and sustainable end of the current ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon is closely connected to a solution in the Israel-Palestine conflict. Therefore, the Government must maintain that the two conflicts cannot be separated and that the Lebanon crisis did not start on July 12^th of this year.

MS strongly distances itself from Israel’s military attack on all of Lebanon. Attacks on the infra structure of a country and on civilians is clearly contrary to international law and like the war in Iraq, actions like these will not only ruin many lives but also produce radicalism and violence. We encourage the Government to use the unique platform that the UN Security Council is to break away from the double standards and selective memory in the West.

The key to peace in the Middle East is a free and independent Palestine as well as the recognition of Israel’s right to exist as a state. This means that Israel must draw back its forces to internationally acknowledged borders that have been fixed in several UN resolutions. Furthermore, Israel must abolish all settlements, also on the West Bank, as they are in violation of international law.

All this put together is important for peace in the Middle East in order for all parties to respect each other regardless of faith and ethnicity and for the different peoples to be able to live within safe borders. MS encourages the Government to demand a solution to the conflict in the Security Council with UN resolutions 338 and 242 as a basis.

A new generation of young people is growing up in the Middle East and before they have reached the age of 18 they are already the largest part of the populations. They have few possibilities of finding work and having influence on the development in their surroundings through democratic participation. These young people must not see Denmark and the West turn their backs on them. The war in Iraq and the cartoon crisis are part of a self fulfilling prophecy about the clashes between the so-called Western world and the Muslim world. Dialogue, international understanding and respect for the right to diversity are the sustainable alternative. In co-operation with the civil society, we wish to strengthen the right of young men and women in Denmark and the Middle East to wish and be able to participate actively in the development of our common future. MS works for dialogue between our peoples and civil societies in the long term leading to real change of power structures in the world both locally and globally with justice and co-determination for all peoples.

Adopted by MS general assembly on September 17th 2006