November 14, 2005

The Honorable Condoleezza Rice

Secretary of State

United States Department of State

Washington, DC  20520

Dear Dr. Rice:

We write as leaders of a broad spectrum of churches and church-related organizations to encourage U.S. leadership toward a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians, with Jerusalem as their shared capital.  We believe that you and the President, working cooperatively with the Quartet, have the power to bring both sides to the negotiating table. The security of Israelis and Palestinians depends on this happening – as does our own.  Like you, we have heard and seen how Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land, and especially East Jerusalem, is used to incite terrorists around the world. 

Renewal of the tragic cycle of violence in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza underscores the fact that this is a time of deep concern and of fragile hope. Both President Abbas and Prime Minister Sharon have taken significant steps toward peace.  President Abbas has denounced violence in ways not matched by any other Palestinian leader and is seeking to build a credible democracy. Prime Minister Sharon has fulfilled his promise to withdraw settlers from the Gaza Strip. The United States must say clearly that these steps are beginnings, not ends. Any unilateral action, no matter how praiseworthy, only undermines the long term goal of a negotiated resolution that is durable and deemed to be legitimate.    

We continue to believe that the President’s vision of a viable, democratic state of Palestine living next to a secure Israel can be fulfilled, and we commend the Administration’s recognition that Jerusalem is one of the final status issues that should not be prejudged. We urge you to ensure that Palestinians in East Jerusalem are able to participate fully in Palestinian legislative elections in January. The compliance of Israel to the President’s insistence that building cease in the E1 area was a good sign. We are grateful that the Administration has continued to demand that settlement activity cease, and disappointed that Israel has ignored that request and other requirements of the Road Map.

Hope is difficult to sustain as Israel continues to block the movement of Palestinian people and goods. It is fundamentally important for both Israelis and Palestinians that a future Palestinian state is economically viable, and we applaud the efforts by envoy James Wolfensohn in that regard.