According to reports, Israel said today that while an Egyptian-French proposal for a permanent cease-fire in the Gaza Strip looked promising, more conditions must be met before an end to the 12-day conflict can be achieved. At least 630 Palestinians and nine Israelis have been killed so far.

This week’s event, sponsored by the Jewish Federation of St. Louis and the Jewish Community Relations Council will start at 7:00 PM at the Jewish Community Center, 2 Millstone Campus Drive.

No packages, backpacks, signs on sticks, etc. will be allowed into the event. For more information contact the Jewish Community Relations Council at 314-442-3871.

When: Thursday, January 1st from 4-6pm

Where: Corner of Lindell and Grand, St. Louis, MO

According to organizers, members of the Instead of War Coalition plan to raise awareness everyday until the current military action stops.

So far over 400 people — almost all Palestinians — have been killed and over 2,000 wounded in Gaza over the past five days in a series of Israeli attacks. The Coalition points out that the weapons responsible for the causalities made by and paid for by the U.S.  “We are committed to asking for an immediate cease-fire and an end to the inhumane siege and blockade of Gaza,” say protest organizers in a press release.

The Instead of War Coalition had a vigil on Sunday evening with over 200 participants. According to IWC, an estimated 120 people gathered on Monday in front of Senator Kit Bond’s office and 100 on Wednesday in front of Congressman Russ Carnahan’s office “calling for the Senator to commit to funds for Israel’s aggressive military campaign.”

From the press release:

These cold-blooded killings come on top of an Israeli imposed siege on Gaza designed to strangle the life of the Palestinians living there, by denying them adequate fuel, food, medical supplies and power. It is unmistakable that Israel carried out these attacks with F16 fighter jets and missiles provided by the taxpayers of this country. From 2001-2006, the United States transferred to Israel more than $200 million worth of spare parts to fly its fleet of F16’s. In July 2008, the United States gave Israel 186 million gallons of JP-8 aviation jet fuel. Last year, the United States signed a $1.3 billion contract with Raytheon to transfer to Israel thousands of TOW, Hellfire, and “bunker buster” missiles.

In short, Israel’s lethal attack on the Gaza Strip could not have happened without the active political and military support of the United States. Israel is scheduled to receive 670 million dollars in military aid from the United States in 2009. Missouri’s Congressional leaders must stop funding Israel’s aggressive military campaign in Palestine.