Alliance Party Media Release – For Immediate Release – Sunday, December 28th, 2008

Alliance Party Calls on John Key to Condemn Latest Israeli Air Strikes

The Alliance party is appalled at the Israeli Air Force strikes on the Gaza Strip on Saturday which have left at least 230 people dead and wounded a further 780 people says Co-Leader Kay Murray.

“It is horrific that Israel intends to mount an ‘emergency international PR effort’ in a cynical attempt to brainwash western countries into giving their support to this slaughter. According to Ms Murray, it is widely reported in overseas news media that Israeli foreign ministry officials serving abroad have been asked to immediately begin to mount public relations campaigns through local media and public officials, she said.

The Alliance Party urges Prime Minister John Key and the local media to resist this campaign. These Israeli attacks should be condemned in the strongest possible terms and the media should ignore the churn of Israeli government press releases and accurately report the facts of the situation.

The Alliance believes that Israel must feel the wrath of the international community over these attacks to prevent an escalation of violence, the consequences of which will be catastrophic for Palestinians and Israelis alike and have serious implications for the peace and stability of the Middle East region and the world.

“The Alliance agrees with the European Union that there is no military solution in Gaza. We fully support the call of the European Union for an immediate return to the ceasefire and for Israel to allow the resumption of humanitarian aid as the first steps to end the current crisis,” said Ms Murray.

ENDS

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