In October, The House of Representatives passed the Syria
Accountability Act-- 398 to 4-- after the White House ended two years of
opposition as part of a toughening of policy toward Syria. House nay votes
were by: Abercrombie (D-HI), Flake (R-AZ), Paul (R-TX), Rahall (D-WV). On
November 11, the Senate approved the Act by 89 to 4, with nay votes from
Jeffords (I-VT), Byrd (D-WV), Enzi (R-WY) and Chafee (R-RI). At the
request of Sen. Lugar (R-IN) the Senate version expands the President’s
authority to waive the sanctions in the interest of national security.
Following reconciliation of the two versions, it is expected to be
approved by Congress before adjournment. You can read the bill – HR 1828 –
at the Library of Congress’ legislative website:
http://thomas.loc.gov
2. The General Assembly of the National Council of Churches of Christ
in the USA, meeting on November 6, adopted a resolution that calls for the
tearing down of the Separation Wall and for Jerusalem to be an open shared
city. You are encouraged to mail this NCCCUSA resolution to your
members of Congress along with a letter urging Congress to help encourage
Israel to cease settlement-building and construction of this Separation
Wall by deducting the costs from the amount of the loan guarantees. The
resolution can also be found on our website at:
Whereas, the General Assembly of the National Council of
the Churches of Christ in the USA, meeting at a time of continuing violent
confrontation in the Middle East with the breakdown of the Israeli -
Palestinian peace process, witnesses with deep distress the building of
the Separation Wall by Israel;
Whereas, we note that the Wall is resulting in the de
facto imprisonment of the Palestinian population, the denial of access by
Palestinians to emergency services, health care, food, employment, schools
and water resources, the curtailment of freedom of movement among the
Palestinian people, and the exacerbation of suffering;
Whereas, the Wall violates international law and
eliminates hope for a peaceful resolution of the Middle East conflict;
Whereas, we, as people of faith, are deeply troubled by
the systematic violence against Palestinians, and equally troubled by
bombing campaigns against Israelis;
Whereas, the National Council of the Churches of Christ
USA has historically called for the breaking down of walls of division,
based on our faith that “Now in Christ Jesus, he has broken down the
dividing wall that is the hostility between us” (Eph. 2:14);
Therefore, be it resolved that the General Assembly of
the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, meeting in
Jackson, Mississippi, November 4-6, 2003, calls for the tearing down of
the Separation Wall that is now being erected;
And be it resolved that the General Assembly offers its
prayers for the well being of all people in the region, including our
Christian sisters and brothers whose presence in the Holy Land continues
to decline in the midst of this violence;
And be it resolved that the General Assembly reiterates
its long-standing support for the establishment of a Palestinian State
alongside the State of Israel, and its call for the preservation of the
City of Jerusalem as an open, shared city where free access to holy places
and freedom of worship are assured for people of all faiths;
And be it resolved that the General Assembly calls upon
its member churches to send delegations of solidarity to the Middle East
as an expression of their compassion for the people of the region;
And be it resolved that the General Assembly encourages
its member churches and their delegates and others attending this General
Assembly to join with other United States organizations who have
designated November 9, 2003, as a day to express opposition to the
Separation Wall, and to convey to United States public policy-makers their
concern for peace with justice and reconciliation in the Middle East.
