Brit Tzedek v'Shalom

Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 3, 2004
Contact: Jessica L.D. Rosenblum/Brit Tzedek V’Shalom
(work) 312-341-1205
(cell) 773-562-9096
Lewis Roth/Americans for Peace Now
(work) 202-728-1893

American Jewish Leaders Launch Open Letter Campaign to Next President, Urging Involvement In Israeli-Palestinian Peacemaking

Washington, D.C.— A prominent group of American Jewish leaders will launch an Open Letter campaign on September 9 th, calling upon the next U.S. President to vigorously pursue a negotiated resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. These community leaders will actively seek to enlist the signatures of American Jews across the country, the majority of whom, polls consistently show, support a negotiated resolution to this dispute.

The letter specifically asks that the next president appoint, within the first hundred days of his administration, an internationally respected envoy at the highest level to signal his administration’s intention to work for implementation of the disengagement plan and to renew negotiations leading to a final status accord. The Open Letter campaign will run until November 2, 2004.

The Host Committee of American Jewish leaders spearheading this campaign includes (with affiliations listed for identification purposes only): Ted Mann, former chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations; the Honorable Judge Abner Mikva; Rabbi Arthur Hertzberg, former Vice President of the World Jewish Congress; actor Theodore Bikel; Rabbi Amy Small, President of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Assembly; writer and novelist Letty Cottin Pogrebin; philanthropist Barbara Dobkin; Earl D. Raab, Founding Director, Perlmutter Institute for Jewish Advocacy, Brandeis University; Michael Walzer, Professor of Social Science, Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton, New Jersey; Yossi Abramowitz, editor, Sh’ma Magazine; Al Vorspan, Vice President Emeritus, Union for Reform Judaism; Richard Gunther, Board Member, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee; and Stephen P. Cohen, President of the Institute for Middle East Peace and Development.

“Regardless of who wins the upcoming election, the next President of the United States will inherit an ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict that threatens American strategic interests in the Middle East and around the world,” said Theodore Bikel. “It is much more difficult for the U.S. to advance its goals with the war on terror, the spread of democracy, and the strengthening of global alliances if the Israeli-Palestinian dispute is allowed to fester. America must reassert its leadership in encouraging the two sides to jump-start peace negotiations and to end the violence that has inflicted so much damage on Israelis and Palestinians. That’s what this Open Letter campaign is all about. We are asking people in our community to join us in sharing our sense of urgency with the next president and to ask him to help renew peace negotiations, not at some distant point during the next four years, but in the first 100 days after assuming office.”

For the full list of Host Committee members and additional information, visit the Open Letter web site at www.presidentialletter.org

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The text of the Open Letter follows:

“Dear Mr. President,

“As the newly elected President of the United States, you assume the leadership of our nation at a critical time in our history. As American Jews who strongly support Israel, we call on you to commit our nation to vigorous and persistent engagement in the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We ask that within the first hundred days of your administration you appoint an internationally respected envoy at the highest level to signal your intentions to pursue full implementation of the disengagement plan and a renewal of negotiations leading to a final status accord.

“After four years of unrelenting violence and bloodletting, the current stalemate is unspeakably tragic for both peoples and serves as a lightning rod for international terrorism and threats to our nation’s security. Moreover, the demographic reality in Israel makes clear the urgency of a two-state solution, the key to preserving Israel as both a Jewish and democratic state.

“In the past, American presidents have succeeded in bringing about lasting peace agreements between Israel and her Arab neighbors. They did so by maintaining a steadfast commitment in the face of numerous obstacles.

“We believe that Israeli and Palestinian leaders can be brought back to the negotiating table through your committed and persistent leadership in support of a negotiated two-state solution. Meeting this challenge would be an unparalleled achievement for your presidency. We strongly urge you to take all steps necessary to renew the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and thus advance America’s historic contribution to regional stability, global security, and international peace.”