Immediate Ceasefire. Protection of Civilians

Today, on the 24^th of July 2014, the foreign committee scheduled an extraordinary meeting about the war in Gaza and the crisis in Ukraine. DIE LINKE requested the meeting and the president of the Bundestag approved.

I.                   DIE LINKE and the war in Gaza

The government of Israel, the parties backing it, and the Israeli army are also responsible for the dead and injured in Gaza, as well as for the dead Israeli soldiers. Right now a truce – not only lasting for some hours but permanently – is order of the day. The positions of DIE LINKE correspond with the positions of left and peace forces in Israel, as well as with those of Knesseth members. Furthermore, DIE LINKE works closely together with the Palestinian National Authority and with Palestinian NGOs.

DIE LINKE still for a two-state solution

There is no better solution than two states, Israel and Palestine. A regulated two-state solution, requiring a viable Palestinian state and its acknowledgment by Israel, creates legal subjects which are mutually capable of acting; with the UN as umbrella organisation. That’s why it would be wise and good to further legally integrate the Palestinian side into the UN. Two states are the political solution – nobody doubts that – but no one believes in it anymore.

Israel isolates itself from the world

Two neighbouring states, secure borders and economic cooperation; this solution would be chosen by a clear majority in referenda in Israel as well as in Palestine. Because of that the Netanjahu government by continuing the settlement constructions broke negotiations. At the moment the government feels so powerful that it even sets the U.S. American warnings at naught. Even the closest friends of the state of Israel want an immediate ceasefire, a stop of the settlement constructions and on this basis the reuptake of peace talks. This corresponds to the road map of DIE LINKE faction in Bundestag.

An end to the missile attacks on Israel

Of course, the missile attacks for which Hamas is responsible must be stopped. This must be part of truce negotiations. Regarding this question the federal government does not use its full possiblities as well. Exile for Hamas is Qatar; Qatar is one of the closest allies of Germany in the region. If the federal government seriously wants to influence Hamas to stop missile attacks, then there is only the way through Qatar. This is known, but already in the case of Syria die federal government condones or even promotes that the radical Islamic IS(IS) is provided with money and weapons via Qatar. Acting like this, the federal government destroys the credibility of German Near East policy.

Palestinian Unity Government improves negotiation opportunities

Israel from the beginning reacted with frantic anger to the creation of a Palestinian Unity government. But without such a government – which is fragile – a further drifting apart of West Jordan Land and Gaza could not have been prevented. The unity government involves Hamas in negotiations and strengthened president Abbas. The creation of a Palestinian unity government was internationally received with relief. Not the Palestinian unity government but the war in Gaza threatens to destroy any possibility for negotiations for a long time.

End the Gaza embargo

The Israeli government pretends intending to destroy the tunnel system to the Gaza stripe with its military offensive. If this was the aim, it would be possible without war and military. If Israel raises the interdiction of the Gaza stripe, ends the embargo and there will be set up orderly non-bullying border crossings to Israel and Egypt, the tunnel system will be settled. Why do they not pursue the non violent way?

Immediate Cease fire and Protection of Civilians

DIE LINKE stands in solidarity at the side of the peace movement and the left forces in Israel and Palestine. They have a hard time these last days but without them there will be no agreement. Leftists do not protest against Israel but against the politics of the Israeli government and against war. Leftists stand in solidarity. At the moment there is little hope for a negotiated two-state solution. But this would currently be the best achievable solution. We receive the “wakening calls” to Israel’s politics by David Grossmann. We are shocked by the call of the Arabic-Israeli actor and film maker Mohammad Bakri (Haifa). Jews and Arabs: Stand up and create peace! Along these lines we protest against the government in Israel and demand an immediate ceasefire and the protection of civilians.

DIE LINKE in the foreign committee proposed:

II.                 DIE LINKE and the crisis in Ukraine

There is war in Eastern Ukraine. The war in Ukraine is a war in the heart of Europe, at the borders of Russia, and immediately in our neighbourhood. Military violence is employed as a political weapon. The “anti terror mission” of the Ukrainian army and the National Guard as well as the breakdown of the ceasefire negotiations let to an end of meaningful talks. This speechlessness and the climate of violence lie in the responsibility of the Urkainian government as well. Contributing to this climate of violence is the illegal dissolution of the faction of the Communist Party in Ukrainian parliament. DIE LINKE fundamentally criticised this approach by the Ukrainian government. She works on a network of solidarity with Ukrainian communists and other leftists. DIE LINKE encourages the federal government to keep its declining attitude towards a ban of the Communist Party and asks it to make this very clear to the Ukrainian government as well.

DIE LINKE advocates thorough clarification of the crash/downing of the Malaysian aircraft and turns against prejudgements. Thorough clarification is also part of the respect due to the victims and their relatives.

Only the faction of DIE LINKE opposes sanctions or an intensification of already imposed sanctions; an economic war with Russia is neither good for the Russian nor the German population. The federal government pretends pursuing a middle course by opposing extreme demands for sanctions as well as dropping sanctions. But this alleged middle course is a road to sanctions and the federal government is also responsible for the hourly worsening of relations with Russia.

Sanctions do not replace a political concept. This assessment does not seem to have gotten around to the federal government yet.