The parties participating in the 22nd meeting of the New European Left Forum in Copenhagen, 31 May - 2 June 2002, deeply concerned with the continuing crisis and the terrible circle of violence and terror in the Middle East, unanimously approved the following resolution on Palestine.

We state that the continued Israeli occupation and oppression of the Palestinians, the denial of their inalienable rights and the extension of settlements in gross contempt of UN Resolutions, is the root-cause of the vicious circle of violence, which causes suffering to both the Palestinian and the Israeli peoples.

We express our full solidarity with the Palestinian people and express unconditional support for the establishment of an independent, sovereign and viable Palestinian state beside the state of Israel, with East Jerusalem as its capital and the right of both nations to live in peace within secure as well as mutually and internationally recognised and guaranteed borders, on the basis of all relevant UN Security Council resolutions, in particular 242, 338, 194 and 1397, that have to be implemented

We call for all parties to declare and maintain an immediate cease-fire.

We firmly condemn any reoccupation by the Israeli army and security forces of the areas under the full administration of the Palestinian National Authority and we denounce the contempt of the Sharon government for the UN and its resolutions, its decision to declare the legitimate Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat an "enemy" and launch the biggest military operation of the last twenty years in the Palestinian territories, which resulted to the loss of many innocent lives and great devastation especially in Jenin.

We demand from Israel to withdraw its troops immediately, to put an end to the long standing blockade of the occupied territories, to return prisoners taken in the occupied territories or abroad and to stop mass detention of people, destruction of Palestinian infrastructure, obstruction of humanitarian and medical activity which are adding to the suffering and the toll of lives paid by the Palestinian community, and the full respect of the Geneva conventions,

We support all efforts to investigate the accusations of grave violations of international humanitarian law in the occupied territories, especially in Jenin, in spite of the rejection of a UN Commission by the Israeli government, and report the alleged war crimes to the International Criminal Court.

We deplore the Israeli Prime Minister's decision to opt for the dead-end military solution, increasing the danger of a general conflagration in the volatile Middle East region at a time when a window of hope was opening with the unanimous adoption by the Arab leaders of the Saudi Peace Plan, which contains the recognition of the state of Israel and guaranteeing its security and peace by all Arab countries and the Palestinians

We reject any state and individual terror and the use of suicide attacks by Palestinians against civilian inhabitants in Israel and all other use of indiscriminate violence against civilian bystanders.

We express our warm solidarity with the peace forces of Israel and congratulate them for their struggles especially for their Tel-Aviv rally on 11 May 2002. These forces are fighting for a just peace, relating the security of their country with the recognition of the rights of the Palestinian people. We welcome and support the solidaire help of Israeli peace activists to Palestinian people living under difficult conditions in the occupied territories

We express our full solidarity with the Israeli Army reservists refusing to serve in the occupied territories and demand their freedom; believe that conscientious objection as well as other ongoing grassroots and international peace initiatives are a concrete way of stopping violence and that their civil disobedience contributes to peace.

We call on all sides to guarantee media and humanitarian organisations free access to the areas under their jurisdiction.

We call on the international community to play an active role in resolving the crisis and promote an international peace conference under the auspices of the UN with the participation of parties envolved as well as the European Union, the USA, and Russia.

We believe that the European Union as well as the individual European states has the obligation through political and economic action to support a peace process and the rebuilding of Palestine.

We support further democratisation of the political life in the Palestinean Territories and we support the strengthening of transparency and increased democracy.

We support the organising of intercultural dialogue between Palestinian and Israeli people in our countries as well as in the Middle East, thus promoting the mutual consciousness of social differences and conditions in the regions.

We condemn any attacks against the Palestinian and Jewish communities in our societies and we call upon relevant authorities to react to such acts as well as on all Europeans to stand up to any form of racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism. We regard this as part of our moral and political responsibility.

At this critical moment for peace in the Middle East we demand: - The immediate withdrawal of the Israeli troops from the Palestinian territories and the setting in motion of a new peace process for the termination of occupation and the creation of an independent and viable Palestinian state alongside Israel, within secure and internationally recognized borders, on the basis of the UN Resolutions. - The imposing of an arms embargo on Israel and the immediate dispatch of an international protection force to the area by UN Security Council decision and under its responsibility. - The assumption of a more active role on the part of the EU in favour of a just solution to the Palestinian issue and for peace in the Middle East in accordance with UN, as well as with recent European Parliament, Resolutions. - From the EU to act so that Israel complies with EU-Israel Association Agreements which requires the respect of international law and human rights - The building of a just peace in the Middle East, the democratization and the respect of human rights throughout this volatile region, and its transformation from a theatre of war and foreign intervention into a zone of equitable cooperation, democracy and ecological protection without nuclear and other mass destruction weapons.

We say No to war. No more innocent blood in the Middle East. Yes to peace. No to occupation. Yes to a free Palestine. Two peoples - two states - a common peaceful future for the entire Middle East region.

We support the international mobilization of June 28th 2002 which will take place in Israel and Palestine and take the form of a human chain for peace and protection of the Palestinian people.

Ask more Pekka Ristelä