August 14, 2006
Dear friends and comrades,
The huge positive reaction to the international petition for an immediate cease-fire in Lebanon, initiated in the framework of the WSF network, is definitely a good sign. [1] Individuals as well as social movements, from the north and from the south - from mass trade-unions to NGO’s reacted immediately against the war, and many express the legitimate concern to do more than a petition.
Where do we stand right now?
It seems that finally, after the UN Security Council has adopted a resolution calling for the end of hostilities, the Israeli government will accept, in the next days, a cease fire. Nothing is sure, and the Israeli generals are pushing for the continuation of the war, but many other factors are pushing the Israeli PM to stop the aggression.
This battle, hopefully, will be over, but the war not! For, the Israeli offensive against Lebanon and against the Palestinians is not a “local low-intensity conflict”, but an integral part of the global non-ending war launched in Washington at the turn of the Millennium. In that sense, we can clearly assess that many more challenges are waiting for us, in the Middle East as well as in other parts of the world, in our common, principled and determined attempt to stop the war and to protect our humanity from further bloodbaths.
Building a strong and lasting anti-war movement is not anymore a mere matter of solidarity with the victims of the US/Israeli/NATO aggressions, but of self- protection for all the peoples of the planet. This strategic goal requires a long-term strategy, a coordinated effort, and concrete common objectives.
While signing the petition for an immediate cease-fire in Lebanon, many of you suggested a massive international demonstration, the kind of mobilization we succeeded to build in February 2003. Let’s talk about it, and exchange between our networks: let’s discuss the opportunities, and eventually a date.
Let’s evaluate the experiences of the Global Anti-war Coalition we managed to establish at the ESF of Florence and in the WSF in Porto Alegre, and see together, if a new global network can be on our common agenda.
Let’s think together how to strengthen the solidarity with the Palestinian people who will certainly pay the price of the Israeli failure in Lebanon; to discuss the possibilities of strengthening and enlarging the international BDS (Boycott-Divestment-Sanctions) campaign, decided about in the Assembly of Social movements at the London European Social Forum.
Let’s plan a new wave of civil missions to Palestine, like in 2001-2004, but adapted to the new realities of the Israeli offensive in the occupied territories.
We are at a crossroad, and we all need to mobilize our energies to think the old-new-world of war-neo-liberalism, and to organize ourselves to fight back.
In solidarity,
Michael Warschawski
Alternative Information Center
(Jerusalem/Bethlehem)