|
|
| Email Action Alert |
|
|
| Email Action Alert |
|
CMEP Board Writes Senate Urging Support for Feinstein/Lugar Resolution on Israeli-Palestinian Peace
~June 14, 2007~ Following up on CMEP’s action alert and message to Senate staff last week, the Board of Churches for Middle East Peace sent a letter to all Senators earlier today urging co-sponsorship of S. Res. 224, the Feinstein/Lugar resolution that supports efforts to achieve Israeli-Palestinian peace. The press release, sent to Arab, Jewish and Christian press contacts, is included below followed by the text of the letter. If you have not yet contacted your Senators to ask them to co-sponsor the resolution or to thank them for co-sponsoring the resolution, we urge you to do so. Please refer to CMEP’s June 8th Action Alert for advocacy guidance. You could also include a copy of CMEP’s letter to the Senate or quote from it. The resolution is currently co-sponsored by Sens. Feinstein (D-CA), Lugar (R-IN), Dodd (D-CT), Hagel (R-NE), Baucus (D-MT), Byrd (D-WV), Sununu (R-NH), Voinovich (R-OH), Whitehouse (D-RI), Akaka (D-HI), and Webb (D-VA). Church Coalition Urges Support for Feinstein/Lugar Senate Resolution on Israeli-Palestinian Peace
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Corinne Whitlatch, 202-543-1222 Washington, D.C. June 14 -In a letter to the Senate, the Board members of Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), urged co-sponsorship of Senate Resolution 224, a new bi-partisan resolution that shows strong Congressional support for U.S. engagement in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. The CMEP Board members joined the resolution's sponsors in "calling on President Bush to make a two-state settlement a top priority and pursue a diplomatic effort that could realize the vision he first presented in June 2002". "The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is recognized as one of the most intractable conflicts in our troubled world today, but as S. Res. 224 notes, support for a two-state solution is broad and there is a critical need for robust diplomacy to pursue peace negotiations" wrote the CMEP Board members. They noted, "With the Senate's leadership, the Congress can strengthen Secretary Rice's efforts and encourage sustained diplomatic engagement by the United States." Commenting on the resolution, Corinne Whitlatch, CMEP's Executive Director, said, "The Feinstein/Lugar resolution is an important show of support from Congress for U.S. leadership on Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking. There is a deep yearning for Israeli-Arab peace among American Christians, Jews and Muslims. A just resolution of this conflict and a comprehensive Israeli-Arab peace agreement is the national interest of the United States and necessary for the reconciliation of the peoples of the region. We applaud this important Congressional effort and hope that all Senators will support it." Senate Resolution 224, initially introduced by Sens. Feinstein (D-CA), Lugar (R-IN), Dodd (D-CT), Hagel (R-NE), Baucus (D-MT), Byrd (D-WV), Sununu (R-NH), Voinovich (R-OH) and Whitehouse (D-RI), reaffirms the Senate's commitment to a "true and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on the establishment of 2 states, the State of Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security, with recognized borders." The resolution calls on President Bush to "pursue a robust diplomatic effort to engage the State of Israel and the Palestinian Authority, begin negotiations, and make a 2-state settlement a priority." It also "welcomes the Arab League Peace Initiative" and "calls on Israeli and Palestinian leaders to embrace efforts to achieve peace and refrain from taking any actions that would prejudice the outcome of final status negotiations." The CMEP Board members reiterated the church coalition's long-held support for "a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli- Palestinian conflict where Israel lives in peace and security alongside a viable Palestinian state". They concluded, "Now is indeed the time for all parties to redouble their efforts to achieve peace." CMEP Letter to Senate In pdf Format (on CMEP letterhead)
June 14, 2007
Dear Senator, The Board of Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), a coalition of Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox churches and church-related organizations, welcomes S. Res. 224, the Feinstein/Lugar resolution that supports efforts to achieve Israeli-Palestinian peace. We applaud S. Res. 224's reaffirmation of the Senate's commitment to a true and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and urge you to co-sponsor this important resolution, initially introduced by Sens. Feinstein, Lugar, Dodd, Hagel, Baucus, Byrd, Sununu, Voinovich and Whitehouse. We take to heart the Psalmist's injunction to "seek peace, and pursue it" (Ps. 34:14b) and are encouraged by the prudent and judicious Congressional leadership shown by S. Res. 224. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is recognized as one of the most intractable conflicts in our troubled world today, but as S. Res. 224 notes, support for a two-state solution is broad and there is a critical need for robust diplomacy to pursue peace negotiations. Every day that the conflict goes on is another day that extremists in the region are strengthened, moderate Arab allies are weakened and Israelis and Palestinians live amidst fear and violence. Progress toward a permanent resolution to the conflict will bolster U.S. national security, vital interests and moral authority. The churches in the CMEP coalition have long sought peace in the Holy Land and reconciliation of the three Abrahamic faiths. We support active and high level U.S. engagement to achieve a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict where Israel lives in peace and security alongside a viable Palestinian state. We join the resolution's sponsors in calling on President Bush to make a two- state settlement a top priority and pursue a diplomatic effort that could realize the vision he first presented in June 2002. With the Senate's leadership, the Congress can strengthen Secretary Rice's efforts and encourage sustained diplomatic engagement by the United States. The current impasse is not sustainable. Now is indeed the time for all parties to redouble their efforts to achieve peace. We hope you will join with your colleagues in co-sponsoring S. Res. 224 today. Sincerely, Bishop Wayne Burkette Moravian Church in America
Rev. Daryl Byler Director, Washington Office Mennonite Central Committee
Dr. Stephen M. Colecchi Director, Office of Int’l Justice and Peace U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (Observer to CMEP Board)
Jim Fine Legislative Secretary for Foreign Policy Friends Committee on National Legislation
Dennis W. Frado Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Sr. Donna Graham, OSF President Franciscan Friars (OFM) English Speaking Conference, JPIC Council
Rev. Dr. Stan Hastey Minister for Ecumenical Relations Alliance of Baptists, Washington
Rev. Elenora Giddings Ivory
Rev. Phillip L. Jones Director, Washington Office Church of the Brethren
Rob Keithan Director, Washington Office for Advocacy Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
Dr. Antonios Kireopoulos Associate General Secretary for International Affairs and Peace National Council of Churches USA and Representative of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Rev. James Kofski Asia/Pacific and Middle East Issues Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Dr. Peter E. Makari Executive, Middle East and Europe Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
The
Reverend John L. McCullough
T.
Michael McNulty, SJ
The Very Rev. George Rados
Representative of North America
Maureen Shea Director of Government Relations The Episcopal Church
Ann
V. Staal
Jim Winkler General Secretary, Board of Church & Society United Methodist Church
CMEP Home CMEP Members E-mail Alerts Government Contacts CMEP Letters Statements ~ Churches for Middle East Peace -- 110 Maryland Ave., NE #311 - Washington, DC - 20002 -- 1-202-543-1222 ~ |
