[The following is the translation of the press release sent to the Hebrew media]

Gush Shalom (the Israeli Peace Bloc) calls upon the Government of Israel to cease its efforts to impose by force unilateral solutions, and start immediate negotiations for a comprehensive cease-fire with the Palestinians and cessation of all belligerent acts between Israel and the Palestinians. The murderous suicide bombing at Be'er Sheba , which deserves all condemnation, proves once again that there are no military solutions. It highlights the futility of those who claim to " burn the fact of defeat into Palestinian consciousness " , " reach the bottom of the barrel of terrorism " and other arrogant statement by the heads of the army and security services. Nor can unilaterally imposed solutions bring us peace or quiet.

Withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and the dismantling of the settlements there, could have been constituted an enormous measure for building up confidence between Israelis and Palestinians - had it been decided upon in negotiations, as a first step towards a comprehensive solution and the end of the oppressive Israeli rule in all the territories occupied in 1967. When the same withdrawal from Gaza is undertaken as a unilateral Israeli act, aimed explicitly at intensifying and deepening the occupation on the West Bank , it serves only to increase distrust and fan higher the flames of conflict.

Should the Government of Israel ever liberate itself from the false mantra that " there is no partner " and from the constant demonization of Yasser Arafat, it will find that a Palestinian partner does exist - a partner willing to go back to the political process; that among the Palestinian public there is considerable longing for new, non-violent means of action, as was manifested last week at the mass Israeli-Palestinian rally at Abu-Dis addressed by Dr. Arun Gandhi.

For further information:

Adam Keller, Gush Shalom Spokesperson +972-3-5565804, +972-56-709603