April 15, 2016, Boston, MA – Jill Stein, who is seeking the Green Party nomination for President, said today that she was pleased that Senator Sanders yesterday echoed her repeated call for a more just approach by the U.S. in the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
“It is no accident that the two Jewish candidates for President recognize that the path to peace in the Middle East must include much better treatment and respect for Palestinians. The conditions in the occupied territories are deplorable and the siege must be ended immediately,” said Dr. Stein.
Stein has repeatedly stated that “With regard to Israel, the United States has encouraged the worst tendencies of the Israeli government as it pursues policies of occupation, apartheid, assassination, illegal settlements, demolitions, blockades, building of nuclear bombs, indefinite detention, collective punishment, and defiance of international law. Instead of allying with the courageous proponents of peace and human rights within Palestine and Israel, our government has rewarded consistent abusers of human rights.”
Stein added that “On taking office, I will put all parties on notice – including the Israeli government, the Palestinian Authority, and the Hamas administration in Gaza – that future U.S. support will depend on respect for human rights and compliance with international law. Failure to do so means our 8 million dollar per day support for the Israeli army will be halted, just as we will end support for and weapons sales to Saudi Arabia whose government is also committing war crimes.”
Stein is also calling for an end to the discriminatory apartheid policies within the state of Israel, the removal of the Separation Wall, a ban on assassination, movement toward denuclearization, the release of all political prisoners and journalists from Israeli and Palestinian prisons, and recognition of the right of self-determination for both Israelis and Palestinians. Given the deepening human rights crisis in Palestine, Stein supports the BDS (boycott-divest-sanction) movement as one of the few nonviolent means of pressuring Israel to comply with international law.
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Contact:
Gloria Mattera | Deputy Campaign Manager
[e] gloria@jill2016.com