November 6, 2000

To:        Officers, Rabbis, Key Contacts

From:   Richard B. Stone, Chairman
             Betty Ehrenberg, Director, International and Communal Affairs

RE:      Urge Senate to Oppose Unilateral Declaration of Palestinian Statehood

Urgent Action Needed

Palestinian Authority Chairman Yassir Arafat has again renewed his threat to unilaterally declare a Palestinian State very soon.  After returning to Gaza after the Camp David summit, Arafat said that the declaration of statehood will be made “on time… declaring our independent state with Jerusalem as its capital, whether people like it or not.”  Such a declaration would not only be a fundamental violation of the Oslo accords, but would exacerbate an already tense and violent situation.

Legislation terminating U.S. aid to the Palestinian Authority if the Palestinians unilaterally declare a state was introduced in the Senate by Senators Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Charles Schumer (D-NY). The legislation would also prohibit the expenditure of any funds to extend recognition to unilaterally declare a Palestinian state and would mandate that the President instruct the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations to oppose the admission of such a state into the world body.

This legislation was recently passed in the House and now must be passed in the Senate. Since time is of the essence, it is critical for you to speak or write to Senators and urge them to co-sponsor and pass this important legislation.  Calls and letters to Senators Lott and Daschle are particularly crucial at this time.  

Talking Points for your communications:      

  • Arafat’s repeated threats to unilaterally declare a Palestinian state are a grievous violation of the tenets of the Oslo accords.

  • The Palestinians made the fundamental commitment that the determination of the eventual status of the Palestinian entity can only be made through direct negotiations between both parties.  Unilaterally declared statehood would be yet another failure of the Palestinians to live up to the agreements they signed.

  • A unilateral act on statehood—one of the most fundamental issues in the Arab-Israeli conflict—would inevitably lead to even more violence and may dash any hopes for peace. 

Immediate Action Necessary

Call Senators today at 202-224-3121 or call their district offices.  Ask them to co-sponsor S.2938 in the Senate and help get it passed immediately.  Please call the OU/IPA at 212-613-8124 with the feedback you get.

If you choose to write or e-mail, OU.ORG has provided a draft letter urging Senators to co-sponsor and pass the bills.

Sample Letter

FREE THE ISRAELI MIAS TODAY!!

The Institute for Public Affairs of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America is the non-partisan public policy research and advocacy center created to represent and mobilize the world's largest Orthodox Jewish community.

More from OU.ORG

More from OU.ORG