Socialist International strongly condemns car bomb attack, calls for redoubling of Middle East peace efforts

The Socialist International is appalled by and strongly condemns the car bomb attack in northern Israel that brutally killed at least sixteen people and injured many others.

The bombing comes only days after the International, at its Council held in Casablanca on 31 May-1 June, unanimously adopted an historic resolution, based on a consensus between its Israeli members, the Israel Labour Party and Meretz, and its Palestinian member party, Fatah, calling for "the mutual recognition of the State of Israel and the State of Palestine" as the initial commitment leading to the restarting of peace negotiations.

Those responsible for the bombing are clearly among the enemies of peace in the Middle East and are intent on undermining efforts to bring the sides closer together.

The Socialist International is therefore more determined than ever to press forward with its efforts to promote peace.

Noting that the idea of an early, agreed declaration of a Palestinian state appears to be gaining ground, the International calls for redoubled efforts by all sides to move toward a political resolution to the conflict and vows to support in every way initiatives of the United Nations, the European Union, Russia, the United States and concerned Arab states for an international peace conference.