January 1, 2009

Urgent medical public call to the leaders of Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the Quartet (the Americans, the European Union, Russia and the UN)

Stop the bloodshed in Gaza and Israel!

We, physicians who have the mission to protect life and promote health, cannot accept the present suffering and bloodshed of both sides as a consequence of the war between Israel and the Hamas government in Gaza. We urge you to immediately take all the necessary steps to achieve a complete and stable ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the South of Israel.

We also call upon you to facilitate the renewal of negotiations for a comprehensive and lasting peace treaty between Israel and the Palestinians.

The Israel Physicians for Peace and Preservation of the Environment is the Israeli branch of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) which is a non-partisan, global federation of national medical organizations in more than 60 countries dedicated to research, education, and advocacy relevant to the prevention of nuclear war. To this end, IPPNW seeks to prevent all wars, to promote non-violent conflict resolution, and to minimize the effects of war and preparations for war on health, development, and the environment. In 1985 IPPNW won the Nobel Peace Prize

Prof. Dr. Ernesto Kahan

President

Dr. Ra'anan Fridman

Vice President                                                                                                                      

Dr. Perla Perez                                       

Treasurer

Hillel Schenker

Press Spokesperson