June 7, 2005 

C. David Welch

Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs

United States Department of State

Dear Secretary Welch,

Churches for Middle East Peace urges the intervention of the U.S. government to prevent the demolition of 90 Arab homes in Jerusalem’s Silwan quarter. The historic nature of the location, just south of the Old City walls in the area known as King’s Valley, compounds the potential impact of this action. At this time, when hope for the road map peace plan is essential, such an action by the Jerusalem Municipality would be extremely destructive. 

Yesterday, June 6, the date when the capture of east Jerusalem by the Israeli military in 1967 is marked, there were news reports of confrontations on the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif compound. We are worried that the escalation of violence that began in the Old City on September 2000 might be repeated. 

We agree with President Bush that the government of Israel has obligations not to take actions that would prejudge negotiated agreements on the status of Jerusalem as well as other final status issues. In addition to the demolition of Palestinian homes in east Jerusalem, Churches for Middle East Peace has objected to the routing of Israel’s separation barrier in and near Jerusalem and the building of settlements on West Bank land adjoining Jerusalem. A viable Palestinian state, that will be recognized as legitimate by its people and Arab neighbors, requires the territorial contiguity of East Jerusalem with the West Bank as well as a credible sovereign presence in Jerusalem.

CMEP Board members joined me in meeting with your deputy Elizabeth Dibble on May 11. We appreciated the opportunity to hear her perspective, identify commonly held concerns and to offer our support.  Similarly, previous meetings with Secretary William Burns and Ambassador David Satterfield were helpful in our work of guiding advocacy by our institutions and their members. I will send a letter requesting an appointment with you in the near future.

Thank you for your consideration of our request that the United States convince Israel to cancel the plan to demolish homes in Silwan.

Sincerely,

Corinne Whitlatch

Executive Director