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March 21, 2003
To: Officers, Rabbis, Key Contacts
From: Richard B. Stone, Chairman
Betty Ehrenberg, Director, International and Communal Affairs
Re: U.S. Middle East Peace Initiative
Much is being discussed about a “road map” toward a peaceful
resolution of the Israel-Palestinian conflict. However, in order
for any U.S. Middle East peace initiative to succeed, it must be
based on President Bush’s June 24th speech in which he laid out
the need for a change in Palestinian leadership and for genuine
reform as prerequisites. In your meetings with and correspondence
to Congress, urge them to support that position and oppose any
efforts to undermine it.
Disarming Saddam Hussein is a crucial but not the final step in
the war on terror. Syria, Iran, and Hezbollah remain actively
engaged in and supporter of terrorist activities and must
eventually be challenged. Unless the terrorist infrastructure is
dismantled, peace will have little chance to prevail.
Urge Congress to End Palestinian Terror
Talking Points:
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On June 24th,
2002, President Bush correctly laid out a new paradigm for
bringing peace to the Middle East. He stated that Palestinians
must develop a new leadership not tainted by corruption or support
of terrorism. This new leadership must be committed to peace with
Israel and to destroying the terrorist infrastructure. Only then,
the President declared, would the United States be prepared to
consider recognition of a Palestinian state.
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The
President’s position reflects the reality that, after two and a
half years of a premeditated Palestinian war of terror against
Israel, it is clear that the current Palestinian leadership,
headed by Yassir Arafat, is incapable of and unwilling to end the
violence and begin negotiations. Each day, new evidence mounts
linking Arafat and the groups associated with him to specific acts
of terror. Other than making occasional weak statements generally
condemning violence, Arafat refuses to take real measures to bring
the terrorism to an end.
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Until the
terrorism and violence comes to an end, there can be no hope for
meaningful peace negotiations. Therefore it is critical in the
months ahead to keep the focus on where it needs to be – on the
emergence of a new Palestinian leadership not compromised by
terror and corruption, on the adoption by the Palestinians of real
reform in the political and economic spheres, and on the success
of the Palestinians to end terror and violence and dismantle the
terrorist infrastructure.
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The current
draft of the so-called road map to realizing the President’s
vision unfortunately strayed in several important areas from that
vision. One of the most serious concerns is the role of the
Quartet (the U.S., the EU, the UN, and Russia) as the
decision-making party, superceding the parties on the ground, with
the power to decide if the Palestinians are truly in compliance
with the standards and conditions. This would unfortunately give
the UN and EU a key monitoring role in the Arab-Israeli conflict.
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The current
draft of the road map requires Israel to make a number of
irrevocable concessions based only on the rhetorical commitment of
the Palestinians to stop the terror. Also of concern is the issue
of a timeline – there cannot be a deadline unless the fundamental
problem of Palestinian terror is solved.
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Recently, CIA
Director George Tenet described Hezbollah as possibly a more
dangerous terrorist organization than Al Qaeda. Syria continues to
harbor virtually all the major Middle East terrorist groups in
Damascus, including the Palestinian terrorist groups. Iran is also
providing weapons and training to Hezbollah and to the Palestinian
terrorist groups in Israel. It is important to remember the reach
of the entire terrorist network and the need to undercut all its
branches.
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Prime
Minister Sharon has reiterated his commitment to peace. Israel has
shown time and again that in the interests of a true and genuine
and lasting peace that she is willing to make compromises. The
issue is not Israel’s quest for peace which is sincere; what is at
heart is the question of the Palestinians genuine willingness to
recognize the existence of Israel and her right to live in safety
and security.
Write or
call your Representatives and Senators at:
Representative _______________
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Tel: (202) 225-3121 (Ask for the name
of your Representative) |
Senator ________________
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Tel: (202) 224-3121 (Ask for the name
of your Senator) |
RBS
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