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For Immediate Release

November 14, 2003

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CFL ALERT: A report released by Jean Ziegler, the U.N. Human Rights Commission special rapporteur for the right to food, states that Palestinians living in the Israeli-occupied territories of Gaza and the West Bank are on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe. Nine percent of Palestinian children under age 5 suffer from brain defects caused by malnutrition because of the occupation. Despite these disturbing statistics, the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees will be reducing its size and services in Gaza because of lack of funds. We must not sit idly by in silence as Israel succeeds in committing genocide against the Palestinian people. Write to your representative right now and demand a stop to this human tragedy.

GO TO http://cflweb.org/congress_merge_.htm. AND SEND A LETTER NOW.

TALKING POINTS

* The U.N. report charges that Israel is denying the Palestinian population food and water and that as a result, half of all Palestinian households are eating only one meal per day, which they are receiving from international food aid organizations. Ziegler reported that many Palestinians are subsisting on bread and tea and that the level malnutrition in Gaza is equal to those in sub-Saharan African countries. Ziegler points out that this is “an absurd situation as Palestine was formerly a middle-income economy with a rich agricultural base.” Tell your representative and the president that because we are providing welfare to the Israeli government to commit its crimes, we have a moral obligation to fund the United Nations so that it can continue to feed starving children in Gaza.

*Ziegler says that collective punishment in the occupied territories must end as this policy is resulting in the withholding of food and water from the great majority of Palestinians. Ziegler recommends that Israel "immediately lift internal closures” within the occupied territories that are currently restricting Palestinians from gaining access to food and water. Tell your representatives you demand that the Israeli Occupation Forces immediately withdraw from the Palestinian territories. Tell them that you do not want your tax dollars funding the genocide of the Palestinian people.

*Tell your representatives that under international humanitarian law, Israel is responsible for providing adequate food and water. Ask why Israel’s continued flouting of the law is being allowed.

TAKE ACTION:

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