Given the new international scenario appeared after September 11th it is a duty of the International Organisations and of all Countries who care about Peace to solve the Israeli- Palestinian problem.

It is necessary to vouch for international justice in order to give status to the values of peace and democracy, so that they become patrimony of the whole humanity.

The continuing seriousness of the situation in the Middle East reinforces the need to put an end to a situation of continuous violation of human rights, given also that it comes during a time of international conflict that utterly worries the whole humanity.

The condemnation of terrorism needs to be sharp as well as the condemnation of any other kind of violent action that fuels hatred and stops dialogue. It is absolutely necessary to reach for a solution avoiding the use of force in the settling of international conflicts, and contributing towards a universal, fair and durable Peace.

It is critical to create a movement of great pressure from the base, driven by the Local Institutions with the help of Associations and no profit Organisations. This movement should attract the attention of the international public opinion in order to elicit a strong and crucial engagement of International Institutions to dismantle the dangerous and lasting hotbed that is the Israeli-Palestinian problem.

The local community of Empoli

supports the role of the United Nations in the construction of the Peace process in the Middle East in order to guarantee the recognised borders and the security of all the States of the region, including Israel and the rising State of Palestine;

demands

the European Union to be the peace sponsor between the Israeli People and Palestinian People, in the framework of its foreign affairs policy and by means of its diplomatic action, on the basis of the International principle of legality and the United Nations resolutions.

Believes

that Italy, by means of its Government, should support actively the diplomatic action undertaken at European level in order to promote the peace process.

Lastly, the local community of Empoli deems important

that the Local Governments promote the decentralised cooperation process in order to start a fair economic and social development in Palestinian territories and in order to promote a relaxing climate between the two Peoples, as a warranty of a fair peace.

Consequently, the Municipal Administration of Empoli commits itself to promote this petition with collection of signatures in support of the peace resolution - started on the initiative of Empoli City Council in November 2001 - by extending it also to other European Local Authorities, starting from the twinned towns, delivering it to the United Nations, the European Union Parliament and Government, and to the National Parliament and Government by means of Empoli City Council:

The Empoli City Council commits itself to inform citizens, political parties and local associations in order to promote and sustain the peace process.

Comune di Empoli
Staff del Sindaco
Via Giuseppe del Papa, 41
50053 EMPOLI (FI)