The Miami-Dade Green Party calls for the cessation of imposed measures which have created a new crisis for Palestinians. The blockade of food and supplies by the Israeli government has resulted in hundreds of thousands of Palestinians taking the desperate measure of forcibly opening the Egyptian border and crossing over to get needed goods.

This collective punishment of the Palestinian people does immediate damage to the population and threatens once again to ignite the powder keg of Middle East politics with unknown, but surely deplorable consequences.

Greens reject the very notion of Collective Punishment, and agree with Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention which prohibits "collective penalties and all measures of intimidation or of terrorism."

From the Green Party Platform position "A Real Road to Peace in the Middle East":

• The Green Party of the United States recognizes that our greatest contribution to peace in the Middle East will come through our impact on U.S. policy in the region.
• We reaffirm the right of self-determination for both Palestinians and Israelis, which precludes the self-determination of one at the expense of the other...To ensure this, we support equality before international law rather than appeals to religious faith as the fair basis on which claims to the land of Palestine-Israel are resolved.
• We reaffirm the right and feasibility of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes in Israel.
• Until Israel withdraws from the Occupied Territories and dismantles the separation wall, we call on our government to suspend all other foreign aid to Israel...
• We call on the foreign and military affairs committees of the U.S. House and Senate to conduct full hearings on the status of human rights and war crimes in Palestine/Israel.

Greens across America and across the globe understand that goals of equality, respect for diversity, human rights, non-violence, diplomacy, and dialog are the bases to move towards just and sustainable societies.

The weapons trade, arms race and the fight to secure scarce resources through force cannot ever bring peace or stability; much to the contrary. Only through wisdom and a desire for justice can lasting peace be obtained. We are certain that humanity has the capacity for that and with the will of many, this can be achieved.

In our land it means working towards a renewal of democratic ideals and practices where the media and elections are freed from big money influence and where an informed public, not powerful, well-funded lobbying groups such as AIPAC, decides our foreign and domestic policies.

The Miami-Dade Green Party supports the aim of the January 27th vigil in calling for the lifting of the blockade on the besieged civilian population in Gaza and to she light upon this situation which receives little coverage in corporate mainstream media (much less of that, balanced),

We join others around the world in calling upon Israel to end the blockade of Gaza with the resulting humanitarian crisis, for a ceasefire, as well as for the US to end its arming of the region and to instead support a policy of fairness and justice for a lasting peace.