Call for UN General Assembly: Immediate Ceasefire in Lebanon
Dear Supporter of Peace and Diplomacy,
The most recent news at this writing is that the Israeli Security Cabinet has approved a "widening of the ground offensive" and that Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon would resume "in full force" after the expiration of the partial suspension that followed the massacre in Qana.
As you know, under international law the UN Security Council is supposed to act to stop crimes against peace, but cannot do so in this case because it is paralyzed by the veto of the Bush Administration, which opposes an immediate cease-fire and is backed in this position by the United Kingdom. However, under Resolution 377, "Uniting for Peace," the UN General Assembly can act when the Security Council fails to do so (see "A Road to Peace in Lebanon?" Jeremy Brecher and Brendan Smith, July 27, 2006,
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0727-27.htm .) This procedure has been used 10 times in the history of the UN, often at the initiative of the United States.
Please join us, therefore, in circulating the following petition, calling for the UN General Assembly to act to bring about an immediate cease-fire in Lebanon, Israel, and Gaza. Even a significant movement towards the convening of the General Assembly to consider an immediate, unconditional cease-fire will put significant pressure on the major powers to support an immediate cease-fire.
