In concluding its successful Fourth Annual International Convention, Al Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition, takes this opportunity to condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the Israeli aggression being waged against the Palestinian and Lebanese people.

At this moment, while the Israeli war machine unleashes itself upon the civilian infrastructure and national institutions of the Palestinian and Lebanese people, and while the U.S. administration is once again giving a green light to Israel to continue its aggression, it is paramount that we, and all people of conscience, stand against this inhumanity and continue to assert our unequivocal solidarity with the Arab people of Palestine and Lebanon in their resistance against occupation and aggression.

Despite the overwhelming number of myths propagated by the U.S. and Zionist establishments, and repeated by the U.S. corporate media, the assaults being launched against our brothers and sisters in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip aim to destroy the civilian infrastructure of those areas.

These assaults also aim to break the will of the Palestinian and Lebanese people, such that U.S. imperial and Zionist hegemonic interests can reign supreme throughout the region. This is consistent with U.S. policies in the Arab East, specifically with regards to the U.S. occupation of Iraq, which we likewise continue to condemn in the strongest possible terms, while demanding its immediate cessation.

The events unfolding in Palestine and Lebanon represent an affront to the most elementary principles of human decency—be it with regards to subverting a democratically elected local authority, rejecting the principle of self-determination, while denying the victims of occupation their right to resist their occupiers.

We challenge the people and institutions of conscience throughout the United States to condemn, in principle and in action, the aggression being waged against the Palestinian and Lebanese people, and to stand in solidarity with the victims of this aggression. In this regard, we call for support and participation in the National Emergency March being held in Washington DC, on August 12, 2006.

Moreover, we call for the launch of educational forums and teach-ins on the Palestinian Refugees Right to Return and the reality of the situation in Palestine and Lebanon including but not limited to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian, Lebanese and Syrian lands, the U.S. occupation of Iraq, the legitimate resistance movements opposing these acts of dispossession and occupation, and the state of the 10,000 Arab prisoners held in Israeli jails.

The precariousness of the situation in Palestine and Lebanon compels us to be vigilant. It is incumbent upon us to engage in an escalating campaign of protest and education which will be critical for building a movement that can challenge and ultimately bring an end to the brutality and injustice which is unfolding before us. It is long past due that progressive movements and forces in the U.S. unite and raise their voice in condemning the U.S. government, Zionism and Zionist policies in the region, and demanding that our people’s rights not be held hostage to the calculations of U.S. mid-term elections or any other secondary consideration. Now is the time for the antiwar movement to raise its voice in answer to the challenge that history has placed before us.

We continue to affirm the inalienable right that all Palestinian refugees have to return to their homes, towns and villages. Our work in Al-Awda will continue to be dedicated to the achievement of this goal.

Defend the People of Palestine and Lebanon!

Stop the U.S. and Israeli War from Iraq to Lebanon to Palestine

Freedom for all Arab Prisoners!

Protect and Implement the Right of Return of the Palestinian People!

Long Live Resistance to Occupation and Aggression!

Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition PO Box 131352 Carlsbad, CA 92013, USA Tel: 760-685-3243 or 415-678-6220 Fax: 360-933-3568 E-mail: info@al-awda.org WWW: http://al-awda.org Fourth Annual International Al-Awda Convention San Francisco—July 14-16, 2006.