Peace in the Middle East
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Alexandria — The Suzanne Mubarak Women International Peace Movement (SMWIPM) has launched the Institute for Peace Studies Hosted at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA). The following statement has been issued in response to the tragic situation in the Middle East, as the Movement reaches out to the international community to put an end to the ordeal of the people of Lebanon and to protect their political and economic achievements which are all trapped amidst the explosive situation in Lebanon, escalating the already enflamed conflict in Palestine.
Peace in the Middle East
Again the guns have spoken in the Middle East. Again people suffer in this region, the cradle of the world’s great religious traditions. The children of Abraham choose the path of violence rather than peace, of anger rather than reason, of hate rather than love, of might rather than right, of strength rather than justice.
We call on all those who reject violence, and abhor the suffering of the innocent, to join us in condemning terrorism, whether state-sponsored or launched by groups or individuals. There can be no justification for the killing of innocent civilians. Populations cannot continue to suffer. Let reason prevail. Stop the fighting. Start the talking. Let the grievances be heard, let the wrongs be righted, let justice, as far as we can make it here on earth, prevail. For there will be no peace based on injustice, no community of neighbors that is built on enmity and distrust.
The path to peace is not easy, but it is infinitely less costly than the continuance of war, terror, death, maiming and fear. The path of reason and dialogue is the only true path open for the exercise of reason and the building of better futures for our children.
We call on all parties concerned to ceasefire, and come to the negotiating table. Let words replace bullets. Let there be actions to overcome the deep hostility and suspicion that divide all parties. We know that you consider yourselves mortal enemies, but that is the way to peace. You make peace with your enemies, not with your friends.
We call on the UN and on the quartet to resume their mediation efforts and support the necessary confidence-building measures, restore the roadmap to its rightful priority, and assist the parties concerned to reach the goal of two viable states living side by side. And in restoring negotiations, make sure that silent voices are heard, that women participate in the process and are involved in creating the post-conflict reconstruction that inevitably must come in the aftermath of war and destruction.
With liberty for all, malice towards none, with charity for the needy, and opportunity for the dispossessed, let us replace despair with hope, hatred with love, ambition with contentment, fanaticism with tolerance. It is the only way forward.