CMEP Writes Presidential Candidates

Churches for Middle East Peace sent letters today to the current lineup* of 9 Republican and 8 Democratic candidates now campaigning for their party’s nomination as president.  The letter was signed by CMEP Board members and by CMEP Leadership Council members.  The press release, text of the letter, and list of candidates are included below and on CMEP's website. The letter has been sent to each campaign headquarters and will be followed up by requests for meetings with the foreign policy advisers of major candidates. 

Opportunities for your input into Presidential campaigns varies considerably from state to state.  The very best way to gain access to a candidate and to influence their policy positions is to get involved in the campaign – as a volunteer and/or a contributor. Remember that public opinion can be shaped in many ways, including writing letters-to-the-editor, participating in talk-radio programs and organizing educational programs on the issues at your church or community center.  (See Church Toolkit for Congregations.)

Experience has shown that when presidential campaigners address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the debate moves to a contest of who is the better friend of Israel, and all too often, who will most quickly move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.  CMEP does not advise citizens to ask candidates to pledge to press Israel to change policy or to ask candidates to express support for Palestinians.  CMEP encourages citizens to help create a more constructive debate by making the points emphasized in this letter – to show empathy and support for both Israelis and Palestinians, to commit to stronger diplomatic leadership, to support a two-state peace between Israel and the Palestinians, and to make a comprehensive regional peace a top priority from the beginning of their administration.

Press Release

U.S. Churches Urge Presidential Candidates to Promise Leadership on

Holy Land Peace and Rise above Polemical Rhetoric

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                        

[Washington, D.C. Aug. 9]   With the 2008 Presidential campaign in high gear in the early caucus and primary states, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) sent a letter today to Republican and Democratic candidates. The letters were signed by the CMEP Board, who represent the Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant organizations in the coalition, and by members of the CMEP Leadership Council, prominent individuals who each hold a particular expertise and connection to the region.  

The signers urge the 9 Republican and 8 Democratic contenders currently campaigning, as a candidate, and if successful, as President, “to support a two-state peace between Israel and the Palestinians as a top priority from the beginning of your administration and to commit yourself to stronger American diplomatic leadership toward the goal of a comprehensive regional settlement.”   

The campaigners are asked “to promise strong Presidential leadership in resolving the conflict, the appointment of a special envoy who can act with your full authority, and a balanced policy that addresses the basic needs of both Israelis and Palestinians.”  

“The United States must show empathy and support for both Israelis and Palestinians if we are to help resolve this terrible conflict.  We appeal to you, therefore, to rise above the polemical rhetoric that has too often characterized political commentary on this conflict.”  

The signers, who include a number of retired ambassadors, note that “Such American leadership is needed, not only as a moral imperative on behalf of suffering protagonists, but to restore the goodwill that the United States once enjoyed in the region. The unwillingness of the U.S. government to engage constructively to resolve the conflict has created deep distrust and hostility toward our country in the Arab and Muslim world, and elsewhere. Our principles of justice, equality and peace are at risk, and our security interests depend on more effective leadership in helping resolve this historic struggle.”  

Rejecting the view that this conflict cannot be resolved, the signers write that, “Years of discussions and polling reveal that both Israel and Palestinian majorities are willing to make concessions for peace and understand that it can only be achieved through two states, a withdrawal from settlements, and a shared Jerusalem as the capitals of Israel and of Palestine.”  

Special attention is brought to the future of the small and diminishing Palestinian Christian community whose future in the Holy Land is at particular risk. “Lacking peace and economic opportunity, Christians are prone to emigrate, depleting the Palestinian population of its natural religious diversity.”

Text of Presidential Candidates Letter

Letter with Signers in PDF format

that it can only be achieved through two states, a withdrawal from settlements, and a shared Jerusalem as the capitals of Israel and of Palestine.  Even the refugee issue is soluble in the context of a comprehensive regional agreement.

We urge that in your campaign you promise strong Presidential leadership in resolving this conflict, the appointment of a special envoy who can act with your full authority, and a balanced policy that addresses the basic needs of both Israelis and Palestinians, in the context of a broader Middle East peace.  In reality, their respective interests are interdependent.   All Israelis and Palestinians will continue to suffer without peace and security for Israel, and freedom, dignity and sovereignty for Palestinians in a viable state of their own. The future of the Palestinian Christian community is at particular risk. Lacking peace and economic opportunity, Christians are prone to emigrate, depleting the Palestinian population of its natural religious diversity.

The United States must show empathy and support for both Israelis and Palestinians if we are to help resolve this terrible conflict.  We appeal to you, therefore, to rise above the polemical rhetoric that has too often characterized political commentary on this conflict.

Such American leadership is needed, not only as moral imperative on behalf of suffering protagonists, but to restore the goodwill that the United States once enjoyed in the region. The unwillingness of the U.S. government to engage constructively to resolve the conflict has created deep mistrust and hostility toward our country in the Arab and Muslim world, and elsewhere.  Our principles of justice, equality and peace are at risk, and our security interests depend on more effective leadership in helping resolve this historic struggle.

We know that a great many American Christians would respond very positively to your promise to make Israeli-Palestinian peace a high and urgent priority for your Administration. Moreover, based on our long experience and cooperation with other American religious communities, we are persuaded that you would also find strong support in the American Jewish and American Muslim communities for such leadership.

Respectfully yours,

Churches for Middle East Peace Board

Churches for Middle East Peace Leadership Council

(see PDF file for names and affiliations of signatories)

Republican candidates: Sam Brownback, Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, John McCain, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Tom Tancredo, Tommy Thompson

Democratic candidates:  Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich, Barak Obama, Bill Richardson

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