CMEP to Pres. Bush on Summit and Arms Deal

Churches for Middle East Peace sent the following letter today to President Bush, commending him for his plans to hold an international Israeli-Arab peace summit this fall, and expressing concerns over announcements of new U.S. arms sales and increased military aid to the Middle East.  The letter— faxed to the White House and copied to key contacts in the State Department, National Security Council and Congress as well as relevant embassies— calls on the President to reinforce his peacemaking efforts through “real progress toward a viable Palestinian state” and “bold diplomatic outreach.”  The letter concludes that “True security in the region will not come from further buildup of arms, but rather from just relationships between nations, economic development and respect for human rights.”   

There is considerable debate in the press about both the agenda for the fall meeting as well as the implications of a new infusion of weaponry to the region.  This provides a new opportunity, especially through letters to the editor, to emphasize sustained and robust U.S. diplomacy as the best means to counter regional security threats, rather than a further buildup of weapons that escalates the Mideast arms race.  Point to the Iraq Study Group’s recommendations that the United States  constructively engage Iran and Syria and deal directly with the Israeli-Arab conflict.  CMEP will continue to follow both the summit and arms deal and let you know if and when Congressional advocacy is useful.   

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Key Points:  

I commend your plans to hold an international Israeli-Arab peace summit this fall.  Your continued engagement and strong leadership will be needed to make real progress toward a viable Palestinian state.   

I am concerned about plans for a new U.S. arms sale and increased military aid to the Middle East.  Sustained and robust U.S. diplomacy are the best means to counter regional security threats, not a further buildup of arms that escalates the Mideast arms race and increases tensions.   

I urge you to reinforce your peacemaking efforts through bold diplomatic outreach that includes both constructive engagement with Iran and Syria and a substantive political process that can lay the groundwork for a comprehensive Israeli-Arab peace agreement. 

Text of Letter

Letter in PDF format

August 23, 2007 

The Honorable George W. Bush

The White House

Washington, DC 

Dear Mr. President,

Churches for Middle East Peace commends you for lifting hopes among all who long for Israeli-Palestinian peace – and a comprehensive regional agreement – with your announcement on July 16th of an international meeting this fall. Real progress toward a viable Palestinian state would bolster moderation among Palestinians, help Israel gain security and transform America’s standing in the region. This will require your continuing engagement and strong leadership. Sustained U.S. diplomacy, coupled with the promising potential of the Arab Peace initiative, can restore confidence that peace is possible and can be achieved.

Confidence and hope are diminished, however, by the recently announced plan to greatly increase the flow of weapons to the Middle East through new U.S. arms sales and increased military aid. This massive infusion of sophisticated armaments to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states is likely to result in a new and dangerous regional arms race and increased tensions between Iran and other states in the region as well as with the United States. This influx of arms is more likely to embolden those Iranians who want to pursue nuclear weapons than to help recipient states counter the influence of Iran and militant groups. Promises to increase military aid to Israel and Egypt over the next 10 years carry similar dangers and also call into question the strength of the U.S. commitment to robust diplomacy toward achieving a resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict, which is the best and only hope for a lasting and secure peace.

Churches for Middle East Peace asks you to reinforce your strategy of peace making and demonstrate American values through bold diplomatic outreach – combined with a 10 year commitment of United States’ contributions to the considerable costs that would flow from peace agreements between Israel, the future state of Palestine and their Arab neighbors. True security in the region will not come from further buildup of arms, but rather from just relationships between nations, economic development and respect for human rights.

We appreciate your, and your Administration’s, attention to our concerns and continue to hold you in our prayers as we pray for peace in the Holy Land.

Sincerely,

Maureen Shea                          Corinne Whitlatch

Chair                                        Executive Director

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