Middle East Peace Process

Adopted on May 28, 1989, at the CSJO Business meeting in Cleveland, Ohio, USA

The Congress of Secular Jewish Organizations is a federation of North American organizations dedicated to the continuity of the Jewish people and to their culture. We are also committed to our traditional Jewish beliefs in humanism, compassion for all peoples, and social justice. It is out of these convictions that we have become most concerned about the deteriorating situation in Israel and the danger to all people there. We feel compelled to express this concern publicly and to express our views on what needs to be done with the hope that they may contribute to peace and the future of Israel and the Palestinian people.

We call for the recognition of Israel by the Palestinian people and for the recognition by Israel of the right to self-determination for the Palestinian people.

We strongly urge the immediate convening of a conference to begin the task of solving the problems that now exist between both peoples.The conference should include representatives of the Israeli and the Palestinian peoples and whatever additional parties they agree to include. The representatives of the Palestinian people must be determined by themselves.

We urge the cessation of the confrontational tactics by both sides and an immediate end to the killing of men, women, and children. Termination of interpersonal and intercommunity conflict will contribute to creating the climate for the successful solution of the problems faced by both peoples.