October 17, 2001

Bruce Riedel 
Special Assistant to the President and 
Senior Director for the Near East and North Africa 
National Security Council 

Dear Mr. Riedel:

We who serve on the board of Churches for Middle East Peace as representatives from our national churches or church-based organizations thank you for meeting with us on October 17. We look forward to discussing with you the current Israeli-Palestinian situation in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks and offer these perspectives and requests for your consideration. 

Churches for Middle East Peace commends the President for expressing the vision of a Palestinian state living in peace alongside the state of Israel as the outcome of negotiations. We urge him to be steadfast in meeting the criticism of those who believe that Israel should maintain control over the occupied territories. Our U.S. churches have long believed that the land for peace formula, with its implication of two states, as outlined in UNSC Res. 242 is the only solution to this tragic and long lasting conflict. 

We ask that you expand that vision by clarifying that viability is an essential component for a state of Palestine. For a state of Palestine to be viable, it will be necessary for Israel to abandon its plan to divide the Palestinian land into disconnected cantons by means of settlements and by-pass roads. As a first step, we ask the Administration to specifically endorse the recommendation of the Mitchell commission that the Government of Israel freeze all settlement activity including natural growth of existing settlements. 

Since 1995, Churches for Middle East Peace has called upon the Administration to put forward the vision of a shared Jerusalem as the heritage, hope and home of two peoples and three religions. The exclusive sovereignty of Israel over Jerusalem and its holy sites, which are revered by the faithful around the world, is extremely provocative. Additionally, the perennial and various initiatives of the U.S. Congress to prematurely recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel are seen by many as an endorsement by the United States of Israel's claims. We ask the administration to demonstrate its respect for religious attachments to Jerusalem by offering the vision of Jerusalem as a shared, open city and calling upon the parties and negotiators to move beyond exclusivist claims and create a Jerusalem that is a sign of peace and a symbol of reconciliation for the Abrahamic faiths. 

While we recognize and respect the essential role of the United States in Israeli-Arab peacemaking, we appeal to the Administration to set in motion a new dynamic for peacemaking that has international legitimacy. The helpful involvement of U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan and leaders from European and Arab countries in various meetings, such as at Sharm-el-Sheik in October 2000, and initiatives, such as the Mitchell commission, provide precedent for a 
multilateral approach. The historic role of the United Nations in partitioning mandate-Palestine into a Jewish state and an Arab state, coupled with the fact that UNSC resolutions form the agreed-upon basis for peace, would bring undoubtable legitimacy to a U.N. sponsored negotiated agreement, and the concessions that it will likely require. We ask that the Administration endorse the UN Human Rights Inquiry Commission recommendations. Furthermore, we urge the Administration to place a greater emphasis on international law in all aspects of an Israeli-Palestinian-Arab peace process. 

We encourage the Administration to appoint a special envoy who will work closely with the Secretary of State, the bureau of Near Eastern Affairs and professional ambassadors in a cooperative, international effort to restart and complete peace negotiations. 

Meanwhile the violence between Israelis and Palestinians continues. With each death and funeral, hatred grows between Israelis and Palestinians and reverberates around the world. We urge the Administration to work with the UN Security Council, or a group of states, to send in an observer mission at the earliest possible date as one immediate means of discouraging further violence. As many nations are being asked to contribute to, and make sacrifices for, the international effort to combat terrorism, it should be expected that Israel agree to the dispatch of multinational observers to the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem. 

We are heartened by President Bush's appeals to the American public for tolerance and his expressed appreciation of the diversity within the fabric of our society. Our closing request is to the President. We ask that a meeting be arranged with the heads of our national churches – Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox – for discussion of Israeli-Palestinian peace making and how the U.S. churches might support that endeavor. 

Sincerely, 
 

James Matlack, Director, Washington Office American Friends Service Committee Stan DeBoe, OSST Director of Office of Justice and Peace  Catholic Conference of Major Superiors of Men  Greg Davidson Laszakovits  Church of the Brethren, Washington Office  Lisa Wright Associate Director, Washington Office Church World Service/Nat'l Council of Churches Thomas H. Hart Director of Government Relations Episcopal Church, USA Mark B. Brown Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs Division for Church in Society Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Joe Volk, Executive Secretary Friends Committee on National Legislation   Peter Ruggere, MM Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns  J. Daryl Byler Director, Washington Office Mennonite Central Committee

Rev. Elenora Giddings Ivory Director, Washington Office Presbyterian Church (USA) Eugene Heideman Representative to CMEP Reformed Church in America  Jack Edmondson Representative to CMEP Unitarian Universalist Association  Peter E. Makari Executive, Middle East and Europe Common Global Ministries Board of the  United Church of Christ and  Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Janet Horman Program Dir., Peace with Justice Program United Methodist General Bd. Church and Society Peggy Hutchison Assistant General Secretary  Global Networks/Ecumenical Relations  United Methodist General Bd. of Global Ministries Rev. Drew Christiansen, S.J. Counselor for International Affairs United States Conference of Catholic Bishops