The Honorable Condoleezza Rice

Secretary of State

Washington, DC

Dear Dr. Rice,       

We write in appreciation of your direct engagement earlier this week with Israeli and Palestinian leaders that helped conclude their agreement to coordinate plans, relative to houses in Gaza settlements, as Israel withdraws. Along with General Ward and Mr. Wolfensohn, your sustained attention will be needed regarding the other elements necessary for an orderly and peaceful withdrawal from Gaza and for maintaining the momentum of the Road Map to end the conflict with a two-state solution.  During this time preceding negotiations on final status issues, it is vital that Prime Minister Sharon act in accordance with your statement, reiterated in Ramallah, that Israel take no actions that try to predetermine the outcome of final status issues, such as territorial borders and the status of Jerusalem.

Your efforts in Jerusalem, Ramallah and Cairo were discussed during the annual meeting of the Leadership Council of Churches for Middle East Peace on Monday, June 20.  The Leadership Council members have varied perspectives gained from their experience in Christian institutions, academia, journalism, politics and the Foreign Service. We share a commitment to a just and peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which we view as prerequisite to a good future for the region and its good relations with the United States.

We are grateful for the work of Churches for Middle East Peace and are pleased to endorse and amplify the advocacy and educational efforts of this coalition of twenty-one Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant churches and church-related agencies. We add our names to this letter as members of the Leadership Council of Churches for Middle East Peace and indicate our affiliation for identification purposes only.

Secretary Rice, we ask that you tell the President of our support and encouragement for his commitment to Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking.  Many of us have worked for decades to resolve this conflict, for the sake of the region and its people. We now view it as an imperative for the security of the United States as well, that Israel’s occupation end and that a viable state of Palestine be established alongside a secure Israel, with Jerusalem as the capital of the two states.