Jewish Committee On The Middle East
P.O. Box 18367 - Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 362-JCOME (362-5266) Fax: (202) 362-6965 Email: JCOME@Juno.com
Supporting Palestinian Statehood and real democracy for all the peoples of the Middle East
The only national organization led by American Jews advocating a sovereign, independent and truly democratic Palestinian State in all of the occupied territories with capital in Jerusalem
JCOME Press Release - 4/18/96
JCOME condemns Israeli actions in Lebanon. Furthermore JCOME believes the Israelis are involved in a gross campaign of disinformation and deception regarding their actual policies and motives, both in regard to the Palestinians as well as in Lebanon. This afternoon the Israeli Army Chief of Staff said there have been "no mistakes on Israel's part" and Prime Minister Shimon Peres blamed Lebanon and Hizballah for what Israel is doing claiming Israel's policies of gross collective punishment are justifiable. These Israeli attitudes, coupled with Israeli policies are totally unacceptable. Furthermore, the complicity of the United States government, especially the Clinton Administration, in arming and encouraging the Israelis should be of growing concern to all Americans.
Just yesterday JCOME sent out the information contained on page 2 which has appeared in the British press outlining the cynical Israeli policy of targetting civilians and devastating Lebanon -- and this was all published prior to today's tragic developements.
It should not be forgotten that Hizballah was created in the aftermath of Israel's terrible destruction of Lebanon in 1982 -- during which tens of thousands of people were killed and terrible massacres comparable to war crimes occurred with clear Israeli complicity and knowledge. Israel's occupation of parts of Lebanon ever since has created the conditions for Hizballah's growth and support in opposing Israel's occupation.
JCOME believes Israel should immediately suspend all military operations in Lebanon and should immediately agree to fully withdraw from all Lebanese territory as a precondition for serious negotiations with Lebanon, Syria, and Hizballah. JCOME further believes that Israel should stop its policies of attempting to put Palestinians on reservations in the name of peace and public accept Palestinian Statehood in the areas of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem.
Since 1988 JCOME has supported full Palestinian Statehood in all of the territories occupied by Israel including East Jerusalem, and full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon to the recognized international border. JCOME helps produce and distribute the unique weekly TV Program "Mid-East Realities" showing on all cable systems in the Washington area.
JCOME Advisory Committee: Prof. Jane Adas; Rutgers Univ.; Prof. Alex Alland, Columbia University; Prof. Michael Astour, Univ. of Southern Il.; Prof. Howard Baumgartel, Emeritus Univ. of Kansas; Prof. Charles Black, Emeritus Yale Univ Law School; Mark Bruzonsky; writer and lawyer; Former Washington Representative, World Jewish Congress; Prof. Noam Chomsky, M.I.T.; Mark Dow, Miami; Prof. Richard Falk, Princeton Univ.; Prof. Sherna Gluck, CA State Univ (Long Beach); Prof. Clement Henry, Univ. Of TX; Prof. Herbert Hill, Univ of WI (Madison); Prof. Elie Katz; Sonoma State Univ; Prof. George Kent, Univ. Of Hawaii; Jeremy Levin, Former CNN Beirut Bureau Chief and hostage; Prof. Seymour Melman, Columbia Univ.; Henry Schwarzschild, New York; Prof. Herbert Schiller, Univ. of CA (San Diego); Prof. J. David Singer, Univ of MI (Ann Arbor); Ms. Shifra Stern, New York.
With Jewish Professors at over 175 Universities and supporters of all backgrounds nationwide.
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The following information was sent out yesterday by MID-EAST REALITIES
prior to today's Israeli attack against the U.N. base in Lebanon.
MORE ISRAELI TERROR & BIG LIES
"THE ISRAELIS KEEP RELEASING MILITARY VIDEOS WHICH ARE
DESIGNED TO SHOW THEY ARE HITTING ONLY MILITARY TARGETS --
PRECISION BOMBING OF HIZBALLAH BASES... IT'S QUITE CLEAR
EITHER THE ISRAELIS ARE SIMPLY LYING ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE
DOING OR THEIR 'DEFENSE FORCES' ARE SINGULARLY INCOMPETENT."
ALEX THOMSON, Independent Television News - 16 April 1996
"GIVEN THE AIR ATTACKS ON THE TWO ELECTRICITY STATIONS OVER
THE PAST TWO DAYS -- THE ONLY 'SURGICAL STRIKES' ISRAEL HAS
ACTUALLY UNDERTAKEN -- THE COLLAPSE OF THE CITY'S INFRASTUCTURE
IS CLEARLY WHAT THE ISRAELIS INTEND... BEIRUT'S POWER SUPPLY WAS
CUT BY TWO-THIRDS AFTER AN ISRAELI HELICOPTER FIRED A ROCKET INTO
THE STATION AT BSALEEM OUTSIDE THE CHRISTIAN EASTERN SUBURBS OF
BEIRUT -- AN AREA INTO WHICH NO HIZBOLLAH HAS EVER SET FOOT...
"SINCE THE OFFENSIVE BEGAN ON 11 APRIL, NOT ONE HIZBOLLAH
MEMBER...HAS BEEN REPORTED KILLED."
ROBERT FISK, THE INDEPENDENT - 4/16/96