For three days Israeli air strikes have been pursuing targets in the Gaza Strip, as Palestinian factions in Gaza have been firing rockets and mortars at Israel. More than 300 are reportedly dead, including two Israeli civilians, and scores of Palestinian civilians. It is time for the carnage to stop.

Yesterday, APN issued a statement to the press urging the Bush Administration to act. Please join our call for the Bush Administration to urgently engage with Israel, regional parties, and the international community to bring about an immediate halt to the rapidly escalating hostilities in the Gaza Strip and southern Israel.

Please also write President-elect Obama. Ask him to learn the lessons of this crisis and to support a meaningful political process from his first day in office.

APN has repeatedly called on the Bush Administration to show leadership to prevent an escalation in violence and a renewal of the ceasefire. We did so on November 17th with the end of the ceasefire agreement looming. And ten days ago, when the ceasefire agreement reached its end, APN again beseeched the Bush administration to act, warning that an escalation of violence will serve extremists, while increasing danger to both soldiers and civilians, and risk getting Israel bogged down in an open-ended mission in Gaza.

Sadly, this is exactly the situation today.

The sensible path forward demands the re-establishment of a ceasefire, not as an end unto itself, but as an opportunity to generate real humanitarian improvements in the Gaza Strip and to launch a political process. Absent these two elements - which were lacking during the previous ceasefire - the next ceasefire will likely be little more than a lull in the fighting.

Read exclusive analysis about this crisis by Israeli security expert Yossi Alpher at APN's website.

Take Action NOW!

Click here to write President Bush.

Click here to write President-elect Obama.