II. Seeking Peace Bulletin Issue #12 FEBRUARY 25, 2002 LATEST POLL RESULTS 57% of Israelis support evacuating the settlements in the Gaza Strip, whereas only 22% feel the settlements in Judea and Samaria should be evacuated completely, and 37% believe settlements in crowded Palestinian areas should be evacuated. Israelis are split on the issue of international intervention, with 50% in support, 46% opposed and 4% who don’t know. 59% of Israelis support an interim agreement that would include a cease-fire, the establishment of a Palestinian state on 42 percent of the territory in Judea, Samaria and Gaza and beginning negotiations on a final-status agreement. The poll was conducted last week with 504 respondents.(Yediot Aharanot, 2/22/2) 20,000 ISRAELIS RALLY FOR PEACE On Saturday night, February 16th, close to 20,000 Israelis rallied for peace in Tel Aviv, the biggest demonstration by the peace camp since the current Intifada broke out in September 2000. Organized by the Israeli Peace Now movement and the Israeli Peace Coalition, both Israeli and Palestinian speakers addressed the crowd with one central message: the need for Israel to leave the West Bank and Gaza. Levi Weiman-Kelman, a Reform rabbi, commented, "This rally is the resurrection of the moribund peace movement that was devastated by the events following the collapse of the talks at Camp David." (Americans for Peace Now Report and San Francisco Chronicle, 2/17/02) FORMER ISRAELI DEFENSE OFFICIALS CALL FOR UNILATERAL SEPARATION A prominent forum of former Israeli defense officials called for unilateral separation from the territories. Following four months of internal discussions, the Council for Peace and Security adopted a plan calling for the dismantling of some 40-50 small settlements, a withdrawal from all of the Gaza Strip, and the creation of a Palestinian state. (Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 2/19/2) HIGH COURT STOPS DEMOLITION OF PALESTINIAN HOUSES The High Court of Justice issued an interim injunction that prevented the IDF from demolishing dozens of homes in the southern Gaza Strip. The order was issued at the request of four Gaza Strip residents. The petitioners claimed that the IDF asked them to evacuate their homes and informed them that the houses would be demolished on the grounds of constituting a security risk. The petitioners said, "Our only 'crime' was that we live in a region where a terror attack took place for which we were not responsible." Residents of Gush Katif were outraged over the injunction and issued a statement saying, "We were amazed to hear that the High Court of Justice is preventing the IDF from doing the minimum necessary in order to prevent the next terror attack. We expect that in the war in which the State of Israel is in, that the IDF be allowed to act as in war."(Ma’ariv, 2/20/02) COME CHECK OUT THE FILM "PROMISES" Nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary PROMISES is a 90-minute documentary film exploring the Middle East conflict and prospects for peace by drawing viewers into the hearts and minds of seven Palestinian and Israeli children from Jerusalem. This exceptional film is now available for screenings on 35mm, 16mm, and video formats. Please contact Jeff Reichert at Cowboy Pictures at jeff@cowboypictures.com or 212-925-7800 x107. PROMISES IS COMING SOON TO A THEATER NEAR YOU PROMISES will open in New York City at The Quad on March 15th PROMISES will open in Pleasantville, NY at The Jacob Burns Film Center on March 22nd PROMISES will open in Chicago at the Music Box on May 3rd, 2002 **UPCOMING SPECIAL SCREENINGS** PROMISES will play at the following film festivals: San Diego Jewish Film Festival - 2/23-24/02 North Carolina Jewish Film Festival - 2/24/02 Detroit Jewish Film Festival - 3/13/02 Sacramento Jewish Film Festival - 3/24/02 For more information, visit http://www.promisesproject.org/