April 17, 2001
 
Washington, DC, April17-- The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), the largest Arab-American membership organization, strongly condemns  the decision of Sharon’s government in Israel to seize sections of the Gaza Strip controlled by the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). Following an extensive overnight  military attack, including ground, air and sea raids by Israel, Israeli troops entered Gaza earlier today and reoccupied Palestinian land, land which had been rightfully returned to the PNA over the course of the past seven years.

Dr. Hala Maksoud, President of ADC, said, “This attack by the Sharon government constitutes a serious violation of all bilateral agreements and understandings with the Palestinian side over the past decade. It is a dangerous precedent in the sense that it practically renders all these accords null and void.”

ADC has contacted the Bush Administration to express the deep concern of the Arab-American community regarding this dangerous military escalation by Israel. ADC has requested immediate meetings with officials at the White House and Department of State to discuss the Administration’s policy toward these events in Palestine.In its communication with the Administration, ADC officers have expressed several concerns regarding today’s attack on Gaza:

1. The reoccupation by Israel of sections of the Gaza Strip is a serious escalation since it represents the first such occurrence since the establishment of the PNA seven years ago.
2. The seizure of Palestinian-controlled land by Israeli troops constitutes a clear violation of bilateral agreements between Israel and the PNA and de facto renders such accords null and void.
3. The Israeli military action is a dangerous precedent since it divides the Gaza Strip into three separate and non contiguous parts and deprives the 1.1 million population of Gaza from free movement within the Strip.
4. By reoccupying land legally ceded to the PNA, the Sharon government reveals its true intentions vis-a-vis the Palestinians and its total disregard for ending Israeli occupation on the basis of the exchange of land for peace.

ADC has urged the Bush Administration to go beyond characterizing the Israeli attack as “excessive and disproportionate” by becoming fully engaged in ending the Israeli aggression against the Palestinians and extending international protection to the Palestinian civilian population. While ADC fully agrees with the US Administration that there can be no military solution to the conflict, ADC encouraged the US administration to call upon the Israeli government to stop using American-supplied weapons to carry out these offensives against civilian populations in contravention of the U.S. Arms Export Law.

Palestine Affairs Council

www.PalestineAffairsCouncil.org