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January 19, 2004
To: Officers,
Rabbis, Key Contacts
From: Richard B. Stone, Chairman
Betty Ehrenberg, Director, International and Communal Affairs
Re: Israeli-Palestinian Peace Enhancement Act of 2003 – S.1944
On June 24, 2002, President Bush set out important criteria that
must serve as the basis of any Middle East peace process. The
principles outlined by the President underline that above all,
Palestinian terror and violence must cease; a new Palestinian
leadership free from the taint of terrorism and willing and able
to dismantle the terrorist network must be established; the
Palestinian security apparatus must truly fight terrorism and not
engage in it; and that there needs to be true accountability and
transparency in Palestinian governments.
These principles are now more important than ever. The world has
watched in horror as a young Palestinian mother became a suicide
bomber and killed four Israelis. The cessation of violence and the
strong principles outlined by President Bush can be the only
sensible basis for moving ahead towards the President’s stated
goal of genuine peace. Without an end to violence, no peace is
possible.
In recent months, resolutions emphasizing these principles and
urging the President to hold fast to them have been passed and
sent by both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Language
codifying the President’s policy was included in the FY03 Foreign
Operations Appropriate Bill and passed as part of the Omnibus
Appropriations Bill signed by the President last year.
In order to ensure that the Palestinians live up to these reforms,
a new bill has been introduced by Senator John Ensign (R-NV) and
Senator Bill Nelson (D-Fla) that would codify the June 24th
principles a free standing bill. The bill states that the security
of the state of Israel is a major and enduring national security
interest of the United States and that a lasting peace in the
Middle East can only take root in an atmosphere free of violence
and terrorism. The purpose of the bill is to demonstrate that the
United States is only willing to provide assistance to a peaceful
and democratic Palestinian state after it has achieved the reforms
outlined by President Bush and has achieved peace with Israel.
These reforms must be in place if Congress is to recognize any
Palestinian state.
The bill also seeks to coordinate other countries and NGO’s in
monitoring assistance to the Palestinians in order to assure that
it is used to the purposes for which it was provided and that
assistance is not provided to them through entities that are
designated as terrorist organizations.
Write to your Senators and urge them to help pass S.1944, the
Israeli-Palestinian Peace enhancement Act of 2003. As focus
continues to remain on the Middle East and terrorism on the part
of Palestinian terrorist groups continues with the encouragement
of Yassir Arafat, this legislation will increase US efforts to
encourage the emergence of a new Palestinian leadership that is
firmly engaged in fighting terrorism and committed to peace with
Israel. Please call your Senators at 202-224-3121, ask for the
office of your Senator, and urge him/her to support S.1944 or
write to your Senators at the address below.
Senator _______________
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Tel: 202-224-3121 (Ask for the name of your Senator)
Please act today to ensure that the principles outlined by
President Bush on June 24th, 2002 will become law and that our
vital national security interests in a safe and secure Israel will
be safeguarded.
RBS
BE
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