Church Statements

FCNL letter to Sen. Lugar regarding Crisis in the Gaza Strip
 

~June 29, 2006 ~

 

Senator Richard Lugar
Chairman
U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee

SUBJECT: IDF hostage, Crisis in Gaza, and Arrests of Palestinian Authority Officials

Dear Senator Lugar,

We appeal to you to encourage the administration to help calm the crisis in Gaza. We are concerned for the safe return of Cpl. Gilad Shalit of the Israeli Defense Forces and for the many innocent Palestinians whose lives are threatened by Israel's retaliation for his capture. The administration can and must intervene today with a strong, peaceful diplomatic initiative to stop the downward spiral of attacks and reprisals.

We at FCNL urge the United States to peacefully engage both Israeli and Palestinian officials at the highest levels to bring all sides to their senses and to stop the killing. The United States, as Israel's closest ally, must insist that Prime Minister Olmert and Defense Minister Peretz restrain their military response and work with President Abbas to find a diplomatic resolution to the crisis.

The mediating efforts of President Mubarak and the call by the foreign ministers of the Group of Eight nations are important and appreciated and, although Secretary of State Rice joined that call, this initiative by itself is not adequate. Assertive and active U.S. diplomacy is necessary now.

I have traveled to the Middle East on behalf of Friends organizations since 1974. My most recent trip was in April. I have never seen the situation as bad as it is now. The Middle East Council of Churches' Department of Services to Palestinian Refugees, in a June 29 update on the situation in Gaza, reports on the horrible impact of the Israeli military campaign on the people of Gaza. Israel's attacks on civilian infrastructure in Gaza, including disabling the only power plant and destroying bridges, are acts of collective punishment that have resulted in tremendous suffering by ordinary Palestinian people. These attacks have provoked a predictable reaction. Both Israelis and Palestinians with whom I have spoken have appealed for concerted U.S. action to enable all parties to work for a sustainable peace. This most recent crisis is evidence of a complete failure of U.S. policy.

We at FCNL implore you to use your good offices to turn the administration's attention to active diplomacy to resolve this crisis and breathe new life into the now dead peace process.

Sincerely,

Joe Volk
Executive Secretary

cc: Senator Joseph Biden, Representative Henry Hyde, Representative Tom Lantos
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