Beyond a Pause: An Invitation to a Collective Effort

In light of President Biden's call for a "pause" to the carnage in Gaza, the Metta Center for Nonviolence wishes to go further than a pause toward a genuine ceasefire that would create space for constructive dialogue to work toward an era of security that addresses the needs of all parties involved in the conflict. We re-iterate a lost call for a Global Ceasefire that was endorsed by the United Nations in 2020, which would protect not only Israeli and Palestinian lives, but all lives in all violent conflicts worldwide.

The international community now possesses mechanisms for transforming conflicts even of this intensity, including models of Truth and Reconciliation and Restorative and Transformative Justice, which while imperfect are made more perfect in their use and practice. One can and must both condemn acts of violence while understanding that violence is an act of desperation. These causes must be addressed. All parties should be treated with humanity and respect and be assured that they will be heard. This more often than not makes violence unnecessary.

Yet even in these constructive practices, we must caution against labeling, which is a form of dehumanization. We are disturbed by the framing of discussions globally about the legitimate grievances and suffering caused by the Occupation. We believe that violence hurts everyone, occupiers and occupied alike, as well as those in the international community whose governments endorse and fund violent solutions. Violence is not more legitimate simply because it is government-sanctioned. Governments, we believe, have an additional responsibility to protect all people from violence.

It is because we have faith in humanity that we believe that this approach can succeed. We invite all people of such faith to join us in this call.