This section of the website includes statements, articles, and letters from members of Meretz in Israel. Visit the Meretz-Yachad website by clicking here for English or here for Hebrew.
A right-wing activist on Tuesday poured boiling water
on MKs belonging to the left-wing Meretz party during a tour of the
West Bank city of Hebron.
The incident occurred while Hebron setters clashed with the MKs and
other members of a tour led by "Breaking The Silence," an organization
of demobilized Israel Defense Forces soldiers who document alleged
harassment of Palestinians in the territories.
Meretz chairman, MK Chaim Oron: I hope the reports regarding a ceasefire are true; this is the right solution to bring quiet to the communities around Gaza.
June 17, 2008: Meretz chairman, MK Chaim Oron, expressed the hope that the reports of an agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip are true. Oron stated: “In the current reality, this is the right solution for brining quiet to the communities situated in the
vicinity of Gaza. The Israeli government, as well as the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, must make every effort to maintain the ceasefire. Alongside this step, the negotiations with [Palestinian President] Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas) and [chief Palestinian negotiator] Abu Ala (Ahmad Qurei)must be accelerated.”
In response to IDF and Israel Police policy banning entry to
the city of Hebron and the Southern Hebron Hills region, representatives of
Israel’s peace organizations and of human rights groups active in the
territories assembled for an emergency consultation on Tuesday, August 5.
In addition to the Meretz party, the organizations
represented at the discussion included: Peace Now, the Association for Civil
Rights in Israel, Breaking the Silence, B’Tselem, Rabbis for Human Rights, Bnei
Avraham, Machsom Watch, Ta’ayush and Yesh Din.
On Thursday July 10th, Meretz USA hosted Meretz party MK Avshalom (“Abu”) Vilan at Beit Shalom in New York City. The briefing was also attended via conference call by participants from across North America. Over the past years, MK Vilan has been a keystone for bringing first-hand, up-to-date information about the internal and external current affairs of Israel and its government.
The Israeli government is responsible for what is occurring in the western Negev. Sderot and many other communities in the area are under the daily threat of Qassam rockets, and the only answer being offered for this problem are solidarity visits by VIPs who get their pictures taken and leave: This situation cannot go on.
The chairman of Meretz, MK Yossi Beilin, has stated that, "the humanitarian crisis and the blackout in Gaza play into Hamas' hands. This is an inhumane, un-Jewish and ineffective act, which is liable to save the Hamas politically, after Hamas lost support on the streets of Gaza over the last few months." According to Beilin, "instead of taking responsibility for the residents of the western Negev through a cease-fire that would also bring back Gilad Shalit, the government is choosing the worst option of all."
Meretz MK Zehava Gal-on has called upon the Prime Minister to order the lifting of the Gaza siege. "The decision to darken Gaza shows that the Prime Minister hasn't learned a thing and is engaging in the same rash method of making decisions involving collective punishment, which not only does not prevent the firing of Qassam rockets, but makes the problem worse. This fact is decisive proof that the Prime Minister hasn't kicked his habit, and is continuing to make decisions that cause more harm than good."
"... We must face the truth: The cruel move led by the defense minister in Gaza is first and foremost a response to our desire for revenge and the feeling we must 'hit them hard,' but it is not a response to the danger threatening Israeli lives..."
In response to IDF and Israel Police policy banning entry to
the city of Hebron and the Southern Hebron Hills region, representatives of
Israel’s peace organizations and of human rights groups active in the
territories assembled for an emergency consultation on Tuesday, August 5.
The Israeli government is responsible for what is occurring in the western Negev. Sderot and many other communities in the area are under the daily threat of Qassam rockets, and the only answer being offered for this problem are solidarity visits by VIPs who get their pictures taken and leave: This situation cannot go on. 
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