Letter

CMEP letter to Condoleezza Rice on Fence

~July 21, 2003~

 
July  21, 2003  (printed on Churches for Middle East Peace letterhead)

Dr. Condoleezza Rice
Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
The White House
Washington, DC 20002 

Dear Dr. Rice,

Churches for Middle East Peace thanks you for raising concerns with the government of Israel about the impact of its building what is being called a "separation fence." Consistent with our support for the President's vision for Israel and Palestine living side-by-side in peace and security, we encourage the Administration in its even-handed leadership toward the implementation of the Road Map. The separation fence, which is actually a formidable wall in some places, clearly undermines a credible two-state solution.

Although we would see it as most helpful if the government of Israel canceled this initiative, Churches for Middle East Peace encourages you and your colleagues in the National Security Council and Department of State to hold firm in insisting that this separation fence adhere to the Green Line and that it not engulf Palestinian communities, agricultural land or water sources. By its damage to the Palestinian agricultural sector, by separating Palestinians from their water sources, and by isolating East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank, the geographic result of the separation fence is incompatible with a viable Palestinian state and may worsen the antagonisms that feed violence.

It is difficult to accept the assurance by some Israeli officials that this separation fence is not a predetermination of political borders and that it is a reversible action. The destruction of homes, the destruction of crops and the uprooting of trees are not reversible. By inflaming Palestinian public opinion, Israel's separation fence policy destroys the credibility of Palestinian moderates, both leaders and ordinary people, who are committed to peacemaking and trying to end incitement. 

We agree with Hanan Ashrawi, a Palestinian Christian and member of  the Palestinian Legislative Council, that there is no way that Palestine can be hermetically sealed off from Israel and that "the best relationship is full Israeli withdrawal and a genuine and just peace agreement that will create good neighborly relations." 

We appreciate your continued attention to the issue of the separation fence and other matters linked to Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking.  For the sake of peace and justice in the Holy Land, our prayers are with you.  

Sincerely,

Executive Committee of  Churches for Middle East Peace

Stan DeBoe, OSST  Catherine Gordon       Jere Myrick Skipper
James Matlack         Mark B. Brown

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