Attention: Appropriations Legislative Assistant
The Honorable __________
United States Senate/House of Representatives
Washington, D.C.  20510/20515

Dear Senator ______/Representative_______,
 

Churches for Middle East Peace is encouraged by the agreement reached by Israel and the Palestinians to resume implementation of the Wye River Accords.  This step in the difficult and historic effort to bring an end to the conflict between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples deserves our support and that of the U.S. Congress. The Administration will soon be coming to Congress with its request for financial assistance to Israel, the Palestinians and Jordan for the implementation of the Wye River memorandum signed last fall.  We urge you as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee to support the Wye River package insofar as its funding is appropriately directed toward implementation of the agreement and for purposes consistent with a comprehensive peace settlement in the region.

Churches for Middle East Peace supports the use of U.S. foreign assistance for the direct costs of implementation of bilateral agreements of the Middle East peace process as well as related confidence-building measures, economic development and regional cooperation projects.  We are concerned about the proposed use of the funds for military purposes by any of the parties - Israel, the Palestinians or Jordan. Accordingly, we particularly object to the use of $800 million - 2/3 of Israel's portion of the Wye funding package - to finance Israeli military projects seemingly directed toward continued warfare with Arab states or a potential threat from Iran.  The emphasis Israel places on expanding its already massive military force tends to undermine the confidence needed by the Arab public and governments that Israel intends to be a peaceful neighbor. We urge you to oppose the inclusion of funding Israel's strategic military programs in this and future peacemaking bonus appropriations.

As you consider how the U.S. Congress can support and solidify the Israeli-Arab peace process through appropriations, we encourage you to study the enclosed booklet, "Toward a Safer Future for the Children of Abraham: A Proposal for Restructuring U.S. Aid to the Middle East."   The proposal, which was developed by a study group of specialists in foreign aid from the church and development communities in 1995, continues to be relevant and timely as the anticipated appropriations for phases of the Middle East peace process are brought to the Congress.

If you or your legislative aide would like to discuss these matters with Churches for Middle East, please call our office at 202/543-1222

Sincerely,
 

Thomas Abraham Common Global Ministries Board Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and The United Church of Christ Mia Adjali Executive Secretary for Global Concerns Women's Division General Board of Global Ministries United Methodist Church Mark B. Brown Assistant Director for Advocacy Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs Evangelical Lutheran Church in America J. Daryl Byler Director, Washington Office Mennonite Central Committee Thom White Wolf Fassett General Secretary General Board of Church and Society United Methodist Church Thomas H. Hart Director of Government Relations The Episcopal Church

Eugene P. Heideman Representative to CMEP Reformed Church in America Eleanora Giddings Ivory Director, Washington Office Presbyterian Church (USA) Ted Keating, S.M. Director of  Justice and Peace Catholic Conference of Major Superiors of Men's Institutes James H. Matlack Director, Washington Office American Friends Service Committee Peter Ruggere, M.M. Office for Global Concerns Maryknoll Fathers, Brothers, Sisters and Lay Missioners Joe Volk Executive Secretary Friends Committee on National Legislation Lisa Wright Associate Director, Washington Office National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA