Brit Tzedek v'Shalom

Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace

JTA

March 6, 2006

Nearly 400 rabbis signed a letter to President Bush urging him to maintain indirect assistance to the Palestinians and “constructive engagement” with the Palestinian government.

The letter comes as Congress considers bills that would severely restrict aid to the Palestinians in the wake of the Jan. 25 victory of Hamas, a terrorist group, in Palestinian Authority legislative elections.

“Despite Hamas’ victory, recent polls indicate that the majority of Palestinians remains committed to a peace agreement with Israel,” the letter says. “With this in mind, we urge constructive engagement with the new Palestinian government, in ways that bolster moderates such as President Mahmoud Abbas and sustain the cease-fire that has allowed for relative calm over the past year.”

Brit Tzedek v’Shalom, a left-wing grass-roots group, organized the letter, which has garnered signatures from Reform, Conservative and Reconstructionist rabbis.