Kucinich, Peace and The Middle East

Under a Kucinich Administration, the United States will work closely with the Arab countries as well as Israel to promote peace, strengthen ties, and achieve greater freedom and human rights for all. Dennis Kucinich supports two free and fully independent states, Israel and Palestine, living peacefully side by side and enjoying friendly relations with the other countries of the region. So far, the Bush administration has failed to alleviate doubts over how sincerely it remains committed to this vision. We must work tirelessly to ensure that Israelis and Palestinians live free from the threat of violence and to bring an end to the occupation of 1967. Such an effort is not only in the interests of the people of region but is also in the interests of the American people.

The U.S. must work closely with the United Nations and other international organizations to resolve the humanitarian and development challenges in Iraq and Palestine. We must challenge oppressive governments and stand up for peaceful progressive change in the region. We must oppose the expansion of Israeli settlements in occupied territories and strengthen bilateral relations with all governments in the Middle East, while supporting the efforts of those in the region who are striving to achieve democracy, human rights, and greater freedom for their citizens.

The United States can and must foster peace in the Middle East, and we must do this now. We must stand for an autonomous Palestine Sate. And to have this state we must see the rebuilding of all of those areas that are now in the Palestinian territories, the areas that have been devastated, the areas where the homes have been wrecked, and the businesses have been wrecked, the infrastructure destroyed, because to talk about political autonomy is a mirage, unless you talk about economic vitality. So there must be jobs, there must be healthcare, there must be education, there must be an opportunity for people to be able to breathe, and to be able to live freely. Dennis Kucinich believes that this is possible. He knows that there are many people in Israel who understand how important is it for the Palestinian people to achieve not only autonomy, but economy viability.

Kucinich’s plan would be to achieve that, and to work towards that. And he believes the United States can help to foster that. The United States can help to foster a negotiating structure, where we get both parties to agree on the sharing of water rights, because water rights can be the basis of further conflict, and they can also be the basis of further cooperation. And we must use our influence in construction of a negotiating climate, where we can move towards getting the parties to agree to share water rights. So, too, we must move forward to create a circumstance where the parties will understand that the security of one depends on the security of the other, and there must be mutual agreements to provide security. And as we foster that kind of climate for negotiations, we can then enable the parties to come to those decisions which truly Israelis and Palestinians must be able to resolve on their own, and that we cannot force a decision on these matters of borders and right of return. Kucinich will create a climate to cause the parties to resolve those issues.

As Americans, We must use our considerable influence with Israel to ask Israel to stop building walls, ask Israel to tear down the walls, ask Israel to not participate in the building of any new settlements, because we have to recognize that in order to achieve peace we must stop anything that smacks of isolation, or of creating conditions which will make it that much more difficult to achieve a peaceful agreement.

Israeli settlements in the occupied territories are unlawful and against the interests of both Israelis and Palestinians. A Kucinich administration will vigorously oppose the expansion of settlements in the occupied territories and insist on the dismantlement of existing illegal settlements in the West Bank and Gaza.

The U.S. should support the spirit of the Geneva Accord, which demonstrates that representatives from both Israel and Palestine can negotiate a mutually beneficial and mutually agreeable contract to resolve their longstanding conflict. Outspoken military men have pointed out, that the current logic is leading to unacceptable outcomes, both in failing to protect Israelis, and in terms of human rights abuses committed against Palestinians.

These measures include hundreds of roadblocks, mostly separating Palestinians from each other. The roadblocks are one of the two defining features of the occupation, since they define every sphere of existence: access to jobs, schools, medical care, relatives and friends. The other defining feature is the growth and spread of settlements, all of which are illegal under international law. The daily hardships imposed by Israel and the loss of land fuel the despair that leads to terror. It's time to fight terror with the only weapon left in Israel's arsenal: hope.