Churches for Middle East Peace has sent a letter of
greeting to the 110th Congress which was delivered to all House
and Senate offices. The letter, signed by Corinne Whitlatch, CMEP’s
Director, and Maureen Shea, Chair of CMEP’s Board, urges the new Congress
“to make a negotiated resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in
the context of a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace initiative, an urgent
priority” in 2007. The letter points out that “progress toward
Israeli-Palestinian-Arab peace will require bi-partisan Congressional
support and encouragement for the Administration” and reminds the Senators
and Representatives that “church advocates around the country will support
[their] work on behalf of peace in the Holy Land”. The full letter is
included below.
CMEP is looking forward to working with the new
Congress and to finding new opportunities to advance Israeli-Palestinian
peace. In preparation for advocacy in 2007, CMEP has begun updating its
Government Contacts page
with the current information available (please continue to check back in
the coming weeks as subcommittee membership is assigned).
Now is a good time to begin organizing in your church
and local community to arrange a meeting with your Senator or
Representative in their state or district office, especially if he or she
is a new Members of Congress. Details on how to set up a meeting can be
found in CMEP’s
Church Toolkit for Israeli-Palestinian Peacemaking, along with other
helpful resources. Feb. 16-26 is the first scheduled Congressional
recess. The second is over Easter/Passover from March 30-April 10 for the
Senate and March 30-April 16 for the House (full
2007 Congressional Calendar).
Letter in PDF Format:
House/Senate
January 5, 2007
Dear Representative (or Senator),
Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), a coalition of
22 Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant national church bodies and
organizations, sends you greetings for the New Year at the beginning of
the 110th Congress. As the ecumenical Christian advocacy voice
for Israeli-Arab peacemaking, CMEP guides advocacy by church members
across the country and works with Congress and the Administration in
support of U.S. policies conducive to Middle East peace. In your work on
Middle East affairs, CMEP can provide balanced analysis and a
compassionate perspective that reflects the values of our member
churches.
As you address the many challenges facing our nation
and the global community in 2007, we urge you to make a negotiated
resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in the context of a
comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace initiative, an urgent priority. At a
time when extremist elements are gaining influence, your support of
American leadership in peacemaking will help bring peace and stability to
the struggling peoples of the Middle East and a more secure future for the
citizens of the United States. Progress toward Israeli-Palestinian-Arab
peace will require bi-partisan Congressional support and encouragement for
the Administration to work cooperatively with the Quartet and Arab states.
We hold close to our heart the well-being of the
rapidly emigrating Palestinian Christian community, and recognize that
their future, as well as that of all the children of Abraham, depends on a
political resolution of this tragic conflict. Such a resolution will
require steadfast American leadership. You can be assured that church
advocates around the country will support your work on behalf of peace in
the Holy Land.
Churches for Middle East Peace has long held the
vision of a region where two viable states—Israel and Palestine—live
side-by-side, each within secure and recognized borders and sharing the
city of Jerusalem. We look forward to working cooperatively with your
office and the 110th Congress toward that goal.
Sincerely,
Corinne
Whitlatch Maureen
Shea
Executive
Director Chair of
the Board
