The Honorable George W. Bush
The White House
Washington, D.C.

Dear Mr. President:

As you and your advisers reassess the administration’s Middle East policy, we ask that you consider the following perspectives from Churches for Middle East Peace, the coalitional voice of sixteen national churches and church-based organizations - both Catholic and Protestant.

The current response of the United States government to the cycle of Israeli-Palestinian violence threatens to make the situation even worse. The discovery of smuggled weapons intended for use by Palestinians against Israelis has increased doubts about the credibility and peaceful intentions of Palestinian Chairman Arafat. Nevertheless, we appeal to you and Secretary of State Powell to reconsider the tactic of focusing blame and demands upon Mr. Arafat while ignoring the provocative policies of Israeli Prime Minister Sharon.

We condemn, without conditions, all acts of violence committed by both sides of the conflict. We ask that you, in your upcoming meeting with Prime Minister Sharon, insist that all violence, including the violence of military occupation -- house demolitions, repressive closures, land confiscation, destruction of trees, torture of detainees, and settlement activity -- end immediately.

It is evident to our churches, as well as the international community, that the allowance granted Israel by the United States for the destruction of the infrastructure of Palestinian self-rule, through targeted assassinations, reoccupation of land, and other measures, is a serious policy error. On behalf of the national churches and organizations that make up Churches for Middle East Peace, we appeal to you to convince Mr. Sharon to cease actions that enflame the Palestinian people and to encourage those Israeli leaders who seek to meet with Palestinian leaders.

American interests and international objectives require more from your administration than even-handed criticism and pressure. There should be clarity that the United States intends to take steps that will end Israel’s military occupation and fulfill the explicit goal of your administration to reach a two-state settlement based on the pre-1967 boundaries as directed by UNSC 242. To deny this vision to the suffering and angry Israeli and Palestinian people is cruel and dangerous; to offer hope for peace and the common good of the two peoples and three faiths would be a blessing for them and for all.

On January 21, senior Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders from the Holy Land met in Alexandria, Egypt and approved an unprecedented joint declaration pledging themselves to work for a just and lasting peace. As a first step now, they called "for a religiously sanctioned cease-fire, respected and observed on all sides, and for implementation of the Mitchell and Tenet recommendations, including the lifting of restrictions and a return to negotiations."

We commend those who signed the First Alexandria Declaration and we ask that you adopt, as your own, the commitment of this declaration: "It is our duty and our desire to do what we can to bring forth good from evil -- hope from despair."

Sincerely,

Executive Committee Members

Stan DeBoe, OSST, Chair of CMEP
Office of Justice and Peace
Catholic Conference of Major Superiors of Men’s Institutes

Mark B. Brown
Division for Church in Society
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Thomas H. Hart
Director of Government Relations
Episcopal Church, USA

Catherine Gordon
Associate for International Issues, Washington Office
Presbyterian Church (USA)

James H. Matlack
Washington Office
American Friends Service Committee