National Leadership of the MST
São Paulo, April 8 2002

Faced with the serious situation of the Middle East conflict involving the state of Israel and Palestinian people, and of the international repercussions of the presence of a leader of the MST -- comrade Mario Lill -- and other leaders of Via Campesina who are with the leaders of the Palestinian National Authority, we are making clear our position:

About the trip:

1. From its beginning, the MST had as a priority a policy of solidarity and exchange of knowledge and experiences with all people. In previous years with these objectives the MST had already sent delegates to Israel, where, thanks to the solidarity of that people, we obtained significant knowledge about irrigation projects for semi-arid regions.

2. The visit to the region, decided upon during the Second World Social Forum, was scheduled to coincide with Land Day, celebrated by the Palestinians. The delegation of Via Campesina, composed of members of various organizations from different countries, went to the Middle East with the objective of lending solidarity to the farmers of Israel and Palestine.

3. The visit coincided with the worsening of the conflict, in an unprecedented escalation of violence promoted by the Israeli Army against the Palestinian people. Violence whose principal cause is the continued and growing Israeli occupation of the trans-Jordan lands and the Gaza strip.

4. Given the fact that the Palestinian people are becoming victims of crimes against humanity we cannot go along with this, remaining silent or duplicating the cowardly stand of the majority of governments -- including Brazil's -- in the face of the militaristic policy and violation of Human Rights promoted by the Israeli government of Ariel Sharon with the compliance and unlimited support of ÊU.S. President George W. Bush. For this reason, we decided among all the members of Êthe Via Campesina delegation to lend our solidarity to the Palestinian people by joining the group of leaders of the Palestinian National Authority who are surrounded by tanks of the Israeli government.

About the Conflict:

5. We repudiate the policy of Ariel Sharon's government, betraying the humanist Judaic traditions of respect for life and the dignity of any human being, that has been sowing desperation and death among Palestinians as well as Israelis, as the Jewish soldier Sergio Yahni accused, who has been imprisoned for refusing to re-enter the Israeli Army to repress the Palestinians.

6. We repudiate the government policy of George W. Bush, who, taking advantage of the events of September 11 2001, is promoting with the force of its arms an imperialist offensive that generates insecurity and threats amongst all the people who oppose its interests.

7. We repudiate the timid and hesitant policy of the majority of countries, principally the European governments, in the face of the genocide that Ariel Sharon is promoting against the Palestinian nation and in the face of the militarist offensives of the US that have practically established a planetary state of siege.

8. We support and extend solidarity to the Palestinian people who, in their struggle against the occupation of their territory and for their right to a free and sovereign state, have become victims of actual genocide carried out by the government of Israel.

9. We support and extend solidarity to the Israeli people, also victims of the violence that has been generated by the insane aggression, oppression, and humiliation that the army of its country has been carrying out against the Palestinian nation. We support the existence of the state of Israel, respecting its borders prior to the 1967 War.

10. We support and extend solidarity to the mass demonstrations of Israelis and Palestinians, growing ever larger, that seek peace in the region, in the construction of a peaceful coexistence between the two peoples based on mutual respect. ÊOur special solidarity and support to the struggle of the Israeli officials and soldiers who refuse to join the army to repress the Palestinian people in their territory.

11. We demand the immediate end to the military offensive of the Israeli army in the Palestinian territory, Êwithdrawal to the borders that existed prior to the 1967 War and the immediate implementation of United Nations Resolutions 242 and 243, which assure the existence of the two free and sovereign states.

12. We do not believe that the strength of arms will bring peace. We believe that it will be the result of mutual respect and justice. Above all we believe, as the Israeli writer Amos Oz wrote, that the people who struggle for their freedom, for their land, and for their life will be victorious, always!

Translated by FMST volunteer Charlotte Casey.