In spite of all its failures, the Israeli Barak government is continuing its aggressive policy against the Palestinian people in the occupied territories, massively using most heavy weaponry, including helicopter gunships, rockets, missiles, artillery and tanks against the civilian population. The closure and siege of the Palestinian towns and villages has been tightened still more, preventing from most of the population going to work and bringing the most essential consumer commodities for their families. All this is done with the purpose to force upon the Palestinian people to stop their struggle and to accept the "peace" dictate, Barak, with the support of the USA, attempted to force upon them at the Camp-David summit.

The Palestinians continue their heroic struggle with meager means in their hands. In its wake, defending themselves against the unprecedented violence deployed by the Israeli occupation army, they take actions during which Israeli army personnel and civilians get killed. They too are to be seen victims of the criminal policy of the Israeli government. The struggle fought by the Palestinians is a just one for national liberation against an army equipped with the most modern arms in the world. The events of the last months again prove that in spite of all its military power, Israel will never be able to force the Palestinian people to cease its just struggle and to give up their elementary national rights.

Against this background, the December 9 resignation of PM Ehud Barak, by this advancing to an earlier date the elections for the premiership (and possibly for the Knesset too), are further signs of the government's failures. The sanguinary events in the occupied territories, added to the failures on the social and economic front, as well as Barak's untrustworthy political maneuvering, have brought about his resignation and predating the elections. This situation is deftly exploited by the right-wing opposition, the former PM Benjamin Netanyahu who announced his intention to compete for the premiership included, while the present-day opinion polls show a high priority for him over Barak.

It should be noted that, according to all opinion polls, 60 percent of the Israeli public supports the signing of a peace treaty with the Palestinians. If the Barak government prior to the elections would achieve such a peace treaty, his chances to be re-elected would substantially be better. In order to achieve such a treaty, Barak and his government have to change their policy, abandon their "red lines compromise" dictate, presented in Camp-David. Instead they should announce their readiness to withdraw to the pre-1967 lines, the dismantling of all settlements, to recognize the Palestinians' right to establish their state in the West Bank, eastern Jerusalem included, and the Gaza Strip, as well as to a just settlement of the Palestinian refugee problem according to the U.N. resolutions.

Up to this moment, it is still obvious that the Barak government is categorically refusing to response to the legitimate and just Palestinian demands. Instead of it, the government is escalating its oppressive measures and, on top of it, is setting up new settlements and enlarging existing ones. Barak, instead of changing his policy, repeatedly attempts to establish a so-called "emergency cabinet" or a "broad unity government" with the right-wing and super-nationalistic Likud. Such a government, if set up, would put off further away any possibility to stop the mutual bloodletting and to achieve a just, comprehensive and lasting peace.

In the face of all this, the Israeli Communist Forum appeals not to support a second time Barak for premiership. In the presently created situation, a third candidate should be found on a basis of an agreement reached within the Arab population in common with consequent Jewish forces of peace and democracy, which would become a real alternative to the failed policy of both the last Prime Ministers (Netanyahu and Barak) and the parties which supported them.

If general elections to the Knesset should be forthcoming too, it would be wise to act also towards them by creating a maximally broad-based united framework of all consequent forces of peace and equality. Such a framework should support a peace solution on the basis of Israel's retreat behind the pre-June 1967 lines, the establishment of an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the capital of which would be eastern Jerusalem, the recognition of the right of return of the Palestinian refugees, and the solution of their problem according to the U.N. resolutions. This framework should also categorically condemn the already ten weeks long criminal policy of the Barak cabinet against the Palestinian population, as well as against the Arab population of Israel - 13 of their sons were killed, while hundreds more were injured during the latest pogroms. Of utmost importance would be to achieve a broad as possible united front within the Arab population of Israel, which has become the main standard bearer in the struggle for peace and equality, that would act in common with the consequent forces of peace, democracy and equality amongst the Jewish population.