The justified feeling of indignation that spread around the world regarding the horror sown by the Israeli aggressors with the support of the United States, needs to immediately be turned into energetic action. If it is instead left as an empty feeling, a simple consternation, its political impact will be nullified and can even transform itself into a complacent attitude toward these hideous crimes. Therefore, we must go much further than simply expressing another position or making a commentary or analysis of the evolution of the events. I would instead prefer to make an appeal, first of all to the comrades of the Communist Party of Brazil, to all the leaders, activists, members, friends, and sympathizers of this party that refuses to remain silent when faced with the brutality of the oppressors. An appeal that insists that wherever we find outselves - in the factories, the neighborhoods, the schools, the unions, the parliament in all the levels and even in the instances of government - we denounce these crimes against humanity and we mobilize against them massively and with a spirit of combat. The Communist Party is internationalist and stands in solidarity with all the peoples and nations attacked by imperialism and its hired guns. The struggle that we have promised to deepen democracy, to bring about national development with appreciation for labor and for national sovereignty only has meaning and can only be victorious if it also takes an anti-imperialist perspective. The enemy of the Arab peoples--U.S. imperialism, the main backer of Israel--whose policy of "restructuring the Middle East '' consists of a strategy of domination that implies the sacrifice of the Palestinian, Lebanese, Syria, Iranian, Iraqian and Afghan peoples and of any other people in the region that struggles for its independence, is the same enemy that wants to impose the FTAA and to recolonize Brazil and Latin America. The time came long ago to put an end to the myth that "the Brazilian people does not have a culture of solidarity." It is a myth used to justify the lack of initiative and lack of opposition to U.S. imperialism's actions throughout the world. It is correct to believe that progressive forces will mobilize the Brazilian people. The firm position adopted in official statement by President Lula today (July 30), condemning the Israeli attacks and demanding the cease-fire, express the deep feelings of the Brazilian people and the forces that make up the government. The attack of Israeli Air Force this Sunday in the area of Qana, some 16 kilometers from the city of Tyre, in Lebanon, that resulted in the death of 57 Lebanese civilians, more than 30 of them children, is an abominable crime that will only be justly punished if humanity rises up in acts of protest and succeeds in imposing sanctions on the outlaw state of Israel. This barbarous act of Israel, as well as the totality of the offensive initiated three weeks ago, was an eloquent demonstration of that the Zionists are prepared to go to the limit-- whatever the consequences--of their decision, in common agreement with the United States, to eliminate the forces of the Lebanese and Palestinian national resistance. Only yesterday the prime minister of Israel, Olmert, informed U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice that he needed two weeks more before a cease-fire is declared. It is his estimate of the time needed by Israel to exterminate Hezbollah. The slaughter in Qana makes it more difficult to find a way out of the conflict. The indignation it awakens weakens the positions of Israel and its diplomacy. The speech of Israeli UN representative Dan Guillerman during the emergency Security Council meeting a few hours ago was of an almost unbelievable cynicism, when he said that Hezbollah is the one truly responsible for the death of civilians. He had no arguments to defend himself from the accusations of Mr. Mahmud, Lebanese representative, nor any effective counterproposals to the hardening Lebanese position, also revealed this Sunday in Beirut, when Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, opposed any negotiations before a cease-fire takes place. The Israeli isolation was accentuated by the speech by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who condemned the slaughter in Qana and demanded the immediate cease-fire. But the main reason making it difficult to find a way out favorable to Israel and its U.S. imperialist protectors is not diplomatic but is political: Hezbollah refuses to surrender. Hezbollah relies on its enormous popular endorsement and its ability to unify, lead and carry out a prolonged struggle for national liberation. Moreover, its allies in the Arab world and the Persian Gulf have given no signs that they will capitulate before the Zionist and U.S. Quite to the contrary. U.S. imperialism and the Israeli Zionists have undoubted military superiority, but they do not bring together the minimum political conditions to put an end to what they call "terror." The contradiction in the Middle East is not between "democracy" and "terror." The basic struggle in the region is between the right of the Arab and Palestinian peoples to their independence and self-determination on one side and the appetites for domination and expansion of Israel and the United States on the other. With the proper appreciation of the period that humanity is going through, this struggle is for national liberation and has an anti-imperialist character. Therefore, even though we do not share the religious beliefs or the tactics of Hamas and Hezbollah, we do not have the slightest doubt in saying that in this conflict these groups are in the right. In his offensive to dominate the Middle East, the aspirant for the role of tyrant of the universe, George Bush, promised an "endless war on terror." Now in his second term of office, he is sowing endless terror against peoples and nations. It is difficult for this not to awaken violent reactions. It will be equally difficult for this offensive to be successful. The victory will be to the Arab peoples and the Palestinian people. -- Jose Reinaldo Carvalho is a journalist, and the Secretary of International Relations of the PCdoB, director of the Cebrapaz (Brazilian Peace Center) and consultant of the BRussell's Tribunal.