Brit Tzedek v'Shalom

Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace


Action Alert

Action Alert - completed, 10/17/03

[POSTED: October 7th, 2003]
Bush Administration Must Recommit Itself to Vigorous Pursuit of Just Peace

PLEASE ACT NOW: Fax or call President Bush and Secretary of State Powell in support of withholding loan guarantees as pressure against new settlement expansion and security wall construction on West Bank occupied territories.

Dear Brit Tzedek members and supporters,

With the rest of the world and all of the Jewish people, we deplore the horrendous suicide bombing that took place in Haifa just before Yom Kippur. We will never see an end to the killing until a just peace between Israelis and Palestinians is achieved.

This latest suicide bombing, together with recent decisions and actions of the Israel government, make it painfully clear once more that the extremists on both sides are in charge of the agenda.

The government of Ariel Sharon has once again refused to acknowledge international disapprobation, including that of the United States, for steps that further distance the prospects of peace and a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict--the extension of the "security barrier" deep into Palestinian territory and further blatant expansion of settlements. The Palestinian Authority has been thus far unable to put together a plan to exercise control over extremist, terrorist organizations.

On his way back to Washington from Aqaba on June 4, President Bush described his task in the peace process as "riding herd" on both sides to make sure they were in compliance with the road map. The road map itself, as a viable initiative, may be dead, and the herds are running wild once again. Only the clear and forceful involvement of the President can save Israelis and Palestinians from themselves and save the world from an increasingly volatile situation in the Middle East.

We must urge the President to use all means at his disposal, including withholding loan guarantees, to achieve this end. As American Jews, we must demand of the Bush administration that it recommit to vigorous support of a just peace between Israelis and Palestinians. In the language of our tradition, we say to President Bush, "seek peace and pursue it" (bakesh shalom v'rodfehu).

Write to President Bush and Secretary of State Powell and let them know that you support all means, including withholding loan guarantees and pressuring the Palestinians as needed, to wrest the Mideast agenda out of the hands of the extremists.

A sample letter for faxing and talking points for a telephone call can be found below; the contact numbers are also provided below. (Please note: due to a change in White House email policy, emailing is currently not effective as a means of communication for action alerts.)

We also ask you to circulate this Action Alert as widely as possible--please send it to your family, friends, and colleagues, and please repost it to any relevant listservs.

Please let us know that you have responded to this action alert by sending an email to advocacy@btvshalom.org so that we can gauge the impact of our action alerts.

L'Shalom,

Diane Balser and Steve Masters
Chair and Co-Chair of the Advocacy/Public Policy Committee

Suggested Talking Points for Phone Call

White House Comment Line: 202-456-1111
State Department Bureau of Public Affairs Comment Line: 202-647-6575
  • You are a Jewish American.
  • You share President Bush's concern about continued acts of terror against innocent Israeli civilians. You also share his concern about continued Israeli settlement expansion and the planned path of the so-called Security Wall being constructed by the Israeli government.
  • You ask the President to bring all possible influence to bear on the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government to immediately cease and desist from actions that are inconsistent with efforts to resume peace negotiations.
  • You support the withholding of loan guarantees to Israel, as required by U.S. law, and to pressure Israel to desist in the expansion of the extension of the so-called "security barrier" in Palestinian territory and further expansion of West Bank and Gaza settlements.
  • You believe that this is in the best interests of Israel, in the best interests of peace, and therefore also in the best interests of the United States.
Sample Fax Message

Below is a brief sample message you can send; feel free and encouraged to personalize it.

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Fax: 202-456-6218 (Office of Public Liaison)
Mr. President:

As a Jewish American, I share your concern about continued acts of terror against innocent Israeli civilians. I also share your concern about continued Israeli settlement expansion and the planned path of the so-called security wall being constructed by the Israeli government. I ask that you bring all possible influence to bear on the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government to immediately cease and desist from actions that are inconsistent with efforts to resume peace negotiations. To this end, I support the withholding of loan guarantees to Israel in amounts equal to the sums that Israel spends on the settlements and construction of the fence on West Bank territory, as required by U.S. law. Your leadership towards finding a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is vital. In the language of my people, I urge you "To seek peace and pursue it."

sincerely,

[SIGN YOUR NAME]

cc:
Secretary of State Colin Powell
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520
Fax: 202-261-8577


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