Statements Archive LAST UPDATE  July 11, 2005
March 25, 2004 Statement by Peace Boat on the assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin
As global citizens strongly committed to a peaceful and just resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, we condemn in the strongest terms the extra-judicial execution of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin by the Israeli army, and the resultant unlawful killing of seven other Palestinians and the injury of many others.

We deplore this act, and the Israeli government's criminal policy of extra-judicial killing. This policy, which breaches international law, and the Israeli government's other uses of illegal and disproportionate force such as the demolition of homes, are responsible for the current escalation and the perpetuation of the vicious cycle of violence and retaliation in the region. Through these dangerous, inflammatory policies the Israeli government not only brutalises the Palestinian people, but also endangers the lives of the Israeli people and undermines the activity of all those working for peace.

We urge:

  1. An immediate end to the Israeli government's inflammatory policy of extra-judicial executions.

  2. An immediate halt to the aggressive military operations – including the demolition of homes – in the West Bank and Gaza, and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Occupied Territories as laid down in United Nations Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338.

  3. An end to all use of violence, by all parties in the conflict, including attacks by Palestinian groups.

  4. An immediate halt to construction on the "Security Fence." This "fence", in its annexation of Palestinian land and strangulation of Palestinian towns and livelihoods causes intolerable suffering to the Palestinian people.

  5. A return to the peace process, with the goal of ending the Occupation – the cause of the violence and suffering in the region – and establishing a viable Palestinian State.

We believe that security, peace and justice for the people of Israel and Palestine can only be achieved through non-violent means, and above all by an end to the Occupation.