We maintain that a fundamental cause of the violence is the illegal occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the expansion of settlements in that area. This occupation and settlement construction are in violation of the Geneva accords and U.N. Security Council resolution 242, both of which have been agreed to by the United States Government. This illegal occupation regrettably provokes the Palestinians to use violence to regain their lands, and the Israelis to retaliate with excessive force. We deplore violence on either side. We think that it is counterproductive.
Occupation can lead to abuse of human rights and confiscation of property.
Efforts to right these wrongs do not morally justify actions of snipers or suicide bombers. We commend those on both sides who continue to work for peace. We call for an extraordinary effort toward reconciliation of differences. Specifically, we call for simultaneous and mutual renunciation of violence. We call for the ending of closures that prevent Palestinians from access to food, medicine, jobs, schools and places of worship.