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April 3, 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 - Update
A “road map” toward a peaceful resolution of the
Israel-Palestinian conflict is currently under discussion by
Israel and the Palestinians and members of the “Quartet”,
comprised of the U.S., the UN, the EU, and Russia. 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 correctly laid
out standards for bringing peace to the Middle East. He emphasized
the need for a change in the Palestinian leadership and for
genuine reform as prerequisites. He stated that the new
Palestinian leadership must be committed to peace with Israel and
the destruction of the terrorist infrastructure. Only then, the
President declared, would the U.S. be prepared to consider
recognition of a provisional Palestinian state.
Two Congressional letters are currently being circulated in the
House and the Senate urging President Bush to hold fast to the
principles he outlined in the June 24th speech. A letter to the
President is being circulated by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA),
Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and John Ensign (R-NV)
that expresses strong support for the guiding principles that
President Bush outlined in his speech. The letter underscores
concerns that there are those wishing to short-circuit this
process by focusing on timelines, rather than on the benchmarks of
real performance, and emphasizes that actions, not only promises,
are necessary for real progress.
We request that all our members contact their Senators and urge
them to sign on to this letter by having their staff call Sean
Moore at Senator Boxer’s office, (202) 224-3553, or Robert Karem
at Senator McConnell’s office, (202) 224-2541.
In addition, a “Dear Colleague” letter is being circulated in the
House of Representatives by Representatives Roy Blunt (R-MO),
Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Henry Hyde (R-IL), and Tom Lantos (D-CA)
requesting their colleagues to sign on to a Congressional letter
to President Bush urging him to reaffirm the standards that he set
out in his speech as the only sensible basis for moving ahead
towards the goal of a genuine peace. Without an end to violence,
no peace is possible. Please call your Representatives and ask
them to add their names to this letter. In order to sign the
letter, Representatives should contact Carol Doherty (202)
225-6735 in Mr. Lantos’ office, or Amy Serck in Mr. Hyde’s office
at (202) 226-3960.
Urge Congress to End Palestinian Terror
Israel is prepared to make painful concessions in pursuit of peace
but should not be asked to pay the diplomatic price of war with
Iraq to placate opponents of the war. The following are talking
points that you may use in your communications to your elected
officials:
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On June 24th,
2002, President Bush correctly laid out a set of standards that
the Palestinians must adhere to in order to bring a true peace to
the Middle East. He stated that the Palestinians must develop a
democratic new leadership not tainted by corruption or support of
terrorism and that is committed to peace with Israel and to
dismantling the terrorist infrastructure. Only then, the President
declared, would the United States be prepared to consider
recognition of a provisional Palestinian state.
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The
President’s position reflected the reality that, after two and a
half years of a bloody, premeditated Palestinian war against
Israel, it is clear that Yassir Arafat is 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.
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Real
Palestinian reform is the real road to the peace table. Until the
violence comes to an end, there is no hope for meaningful peace
negotiations. It is therefore critical to keep the focus on the
emergence of a new Palestinian leadership uncompromised by terror
and on the adoption by the Palestinians of real political,
economic, and security reforms. A Palestinian prime minister must
be able to have the will and full authority to dismantle the
terrorist infrastructure. New leaders mean little if Arafat
remains in control of the guns and the money.
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Urge your
members of Congress to sign a letter to the President that
reinforces these basic principles and that states that any “road
map” to peace be based on Palestinian performance, not promises or
dates. There should be no rewards for terror. Senators should be
asked to sign the Senatorial letter and Representatives should
sign the letter circulating in the House. See below for
information on how to contact your elected officials.
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The current
draft of the “road map” unfortunately strayed in several important
areas from President Bush’s 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
sensitive Arab-Israeli conflict.
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Israel should
not be asked to pay the diplomatic price of war with Iraq to
placate the opponents of war. The U.S. government is already
facing tremendous pressure in the Arab world, the UN, and Europe
to push Israel to make unilateral concessions to the Palestinians.
Israel is willing to return to a political negotiating process as
soon as possible, consistent with President Bush’s road map
principles. Efforts to impose a political settlement on Israel
will only embolden the opponents of peace who believe they can
extract concessions through acts of terror.
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Israeli Prime
Minister Sharon has reiterated his commitment to peace. Israel has
shown time and again that in the interests of a true and lasting
peace that she is willing to make compromises. The issue is not
Israel’s sincere quest for peace; 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.
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While ousting
Saddam Hussein is a crucial component of the war against global
terrorism, Israel and the United States remain threatened by
terrorist groups and their state-sponsors, including Al Qaeda,
Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, Hamas, Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, and
other terrorist groups, many of them headquartered in Damascus.
The global reach of the terrorist network cannot be ignored, nor
can the expedited efforts by Iran and other countries to obtain
weapons of mass destruction. The United States and Israel remain
in the forefront in the battle to defeat this global scourge.
Below is a
sample letter you may choose to use or adapt:
Dear Senator/Representative _________,
We are writing concerning the U.S. Middle East Peace Initiative
and the “road map” toward a peaceful resolution of the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict that is currently under discussion by
Israel, the Palestinians, and members of the “Quartet”, comprised
of the U.S., the UN, the EU, and Russia. On June 24th, 2002,
President Bush laid out standards for bringing peace to the Middle
East in a speech that stated clear standards for genuine reform in
the Palestinian leadership. The President stated that a new
Palestinian leadership must be committed to peace with Israel and
to the destruction of the terrorist infrastructure as well as free
of corruption if the U.S. can be expected to consider recognition
of a provisional Palestinian state.
Unfortunately, there are those who are trying to short-circuit the
President’s vision. One of the most serous concerns is the role of
the European Union, the UN, and Russia in the role of the key
monitors in the sensitive Arab-Israeli conflict. Another concern
is that pressure would be put on Israel to make unilateral
concessions to the Palestinians in return for only rhetorical
promises of peace.
Israel has demonstrated time and again that her search for peace
is sincere. However, until the violence comes to an end, there can
be no hope for meaningful peace negotiations. It is critical to
keep the focus on the emergence of a new Palestinian leadership
uncompromised by terror and on the adoption by the Palestinians of
real political, economic, and security reforms.
(Senator) (Representative) _______, we urge you to sign a letter
currently being circulated in the (Senate) (House) urging
President Bush to hold fast to the principles he outlined in the
June 24th speech. The letter (being circulated by Senators Barbara
Boxer (D-CA), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and John
Ensign (R-NV)) (being circulated in the House by Representatives
Roy Blunt (R-MO), Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Henry Hyde (R-IL), and Tom
Lantos (D-CA)) expresses strong support for the guiding principles
that President Bush outlined in his speech, and underscores that
actions, not only promises, are necessary for real progress.
Please contact (Senator Boxer’s office (202) 224-3553) (Rep.
Hyde’s office, (202) 226-3960 or Rep. Lantos’ office, (202)
225-6735) and support an effective and principled peace process by
adding your names to this letter.
We thank you for your time and consideration and look forward to
continue working with you in the interest of a genuine and lasting
peace in the Middle East.
Sincerely,
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) |
Please
contact us at (212) 613-8123 or at
ipa@ou.org if you require more information.
RBS
BE
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