From the news, it seems that thousands of innocent people are targeted in Lebanon. More than 500,000 people, over a third of them children, had been touched in Lebanon by the conflict and more than 100,000 Lebanese were now in Syria, most of whom needed assistance. According to news, Israel's 12-day air offensive in Lebanon has left more than 350 Lebanese and 33 Israelis dead, while more than 100 Palestinians and one Israeli soldier have died in Gaza.

I want immediate unilateral cease fire in Lebanon. I want equity and justice for Palestinians and Israelis, especially for those children. Most of the deaths in Middle East can be prevented by peace negotiations. Israeli and Palestinians must accept a political solutions. People from both countries want peace.

I see only one solution to solving major problems peace power can't be stopped if it's great and persistent enough. The solution is to serve the needs of all the people. Our history proves that when enough people act they get results. The greatest peace gains were gotten by people action. We need that now especially to end Middle East war.

We should join hand for peace. In war, the first casualty is always the people like us.

Both Palestinians and Israelis are subjected to different types of violence. There are terrorism and war that increase the risk of people's death during war. People in the Middle East are deprived of peace and security. In lack of effective programs against war and terrorism, people have been forced to die. The war, violence and terrorism have made people helpless. Violence and war are some ugly realities which have been plaguing Middle East.

Similarly, children are from both countries are becoming victims of violence and these are the underlying reasons for their leaving homes and coming to the streets. They are also facing hunger and deterioration security threat.

Thus, I believe, unless appropriate and adequate peace action programmes launched, the life of Palestinians and Israelis will be more dangerous. It will only hold if serious negotiations are undertaken to address the issues and fair solutions are found for everyone. There's only one ultimate way to solve the problems. All sides have to come
together and compromise enough with each other.

Do we think the world (the governments) is doing enough to bring peace in Middle East? So how can we strengthen our commitments to reconciliation and peaceful coexistence in Middle East than? Is there anything in the world today comparable to that nonviolent movement in Middle East? Have the peace activists around the world ever cared to be serious in their mission to minimize such war?

We must committed to solve the violence through understanding. But it needs the cooperation. We must fallow message of love, compassion, and tolerance.

Global protests held for peace

1. Thousands of people around the world bashed drums, brandished placards and chanted slogans today to demand an end to Israel's offensive in Lebanon and Gaza. The biggest rally took place in London, where thousands of demonstrators urged British Prime Minister Tony Blair to stop what they described as his support of the conflict and join international calls for an immediate ceasefire. "Peace for Lebanon!" rang the chant as the march weaved its way through central London, past the US embassy and on to Hyde Park, watched all the way by the police.
   
   Israeli-Arab MP Mohammed Barrakeh said: "This war is a catastrophe. We can prevent this catastrophe through negotiations that would save the lives of Arabs and Israelis." Barrakeh said, however, that he saw little hope for the fighting stopping any time soon. "The war won't end soon but we won't stop protesting either," he said. In the Swiss capital, 500 people marched in silence behind a coffin representing the death of the conscience of the UN. (Source: http://www.news.com.au)
   
   
   
2. About a kilometre long march on the streets of downtown Sydney by Australian Muslims & other ethnic communities especially the Arab community echoed against the ongoing Israeli bombardment in Lebanon. Young children, youth, women and men had been pouring into the downtown since early morning in the cold and rainy weather.
   
   There were more than 10,000 people already gathered around 12:30pm (AEST) at Town Hall, Sydney. Protesters carrying Australian & Lebanese flags, coffins and anti-war slogans and chanting against Israel marched from Town Hall to American Consulate office at Martin Place. This only being a kilometre journey took about one-hour due to packed mob on the famous George Street. Most of the slogans were anti-Israeli and anti-American. The Rally reached the American Consulate Office, Martin Place, about 2.15pm and ended at 2.30pm peacefully. (Source: peacejournalism.com, Syed Atiq ul Hassan, Foreign Correspondent, July 22, 2006)
   
   
   
3. The U.N. Security Council turned its focus to a dire humanitarian crisis in Lebanon on Friday as Secretary-General Kofi Annan's plea for a quick end to the fighting between Israel and Hizbollah failed to gain traction. Council members came under fire from dozens of world governments during an all-day public meeting on Friday for the apparent indecision shown by the 15-nation U.N. body. "How long will the doors of our council remain closed? The children of Lebanon are knocking on your doors and all the peace-loving peoples are calling upon you to act. Stop the bloodbath," said Ambassador Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser of Qatar, the council's sole Arab nation. U.N. Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland said he had formally asked the Israeli and Lebanese governments a day earlier to guarantee safe passage routes by land, air and sea into and out of Lebanon. (Source: Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.)

Peace And Only Peace

UN, international organizations, World governments, Human Rights organizations must focus Middle East issues on reaching the goal of permanent peace there.

We must plan, organize and implement programs effectively. May this way we can protect innocents citizens in the Middle East from war and terrorism.

Kamala Sarup is an editor of peacejournalism.com

TAKE ACTION

Sign Open Letter/Petition to Mr. Harper demanding that the Gov't of Canada stop supporting Israeli violence

I hope you will add your names to this Open Letter/Petition to Harper demanding that the Gov't of Canada stop supporting Israeli violence. We would like to get as many signatures as possible. Please feel free to forward to all individuals that may be willing to support our cause and invite them to sign as well. Read More

Other articles by Kamala Sarup

Globally, the media shows little interest in women's issues

ASIA: Don't Sell Women's Bodies Threatening Region-Wide Chaos

Anti-Maoist Campaign By Women

Peace In Women's Terms

'Without Women's Activities, Would peace Be Possible?'

War and AIDS: How Nepali Women Suffer Under Insurgency

You can read more articles by Kamala Sarup on her website at: http://peacejournalism.com/

Go To Top

Return to DAWN Ontario index page

Featured News & Alerts

What's New
additions to the site indexed daily

Contact Us