Call your Senators: "Don't Undermine Obama's Middle East Policies"
The Attila the Huns of Israel policy, Senators Evan Bayh (as in “bye bye,” D-IN) and James Risch (R-ID) have circulated a “Dear Colleague” letter that questions the fair play role Obama is playing in the Middle East! Backed by AIPAC, it typically showers praise on Israel while putting the full burden of peacemaking on the Arab states. After the successes of forcing Bibi Netanyahu to acknowledge two states and halting new and expanded settlement growth, this is a stupid letter and it deliberately puts a stick in Obama’s tires.
Americans for Peace Now, Brit Tzedek v’Shalom, and J Street ask you to call your Senators today. How many calls are we talking to be taken seriously? Do you really want to know? Twenty. Twenty calls per state. Call the switchboard at (202) 224-3121, tell them not to sign until it’s changed to be even-handed. More eloquent script below the fold.
Hi, my name is [name] from [hometown], [state] and I’m a constituent of the Senator. I am calling in regards to the Bayh/Risch “Dear Colleague” letter now being circulated regarding the Obama Administration’s Mideast Policies. The letter rightly praises Israel’s recent actions, and also calls on Arab leaders to demonstrate their commitment to the peace process by taking concrete actions.
As a constituent, I want the Senator to know that there is nothing wrong with calling on all parties in the Middle East to step up to the plate – this is, in fact, President Obama’s approach.
I am quite concerned that Senators Bayh and Risch have left out the need for a complete settlement freeze including East Jerusalem, a position consistent with the Road Map and U.S. Foreign Policy.
I request that the Senator refrain from signing the letter unless it is revised to reflect the need for a balanced approach, that is, pressing for normalization of relations by Arab countries while simultaneously pressing Israel to move on a settlement freeze.
Thank you.
After you have called, please let us know at [email protected].
Hi, my name is Gershon, from Studentville, MA, and I’m a constituent of Teddy Kennedy and John Kerry. I am calling in regards to the Bayh/Risch “Dear Colleague” letter now being circulated regarding the Obama Administration’s Mideast Policies. The letter rightly praises Israel’s recent actions, and also calls on Arab leaders to demonstrate their commitment to the peace process by taking concrete actions.
As a constituent, I want the Senator to know that there is nothing wrong with calling on all parties in the Middle East to step up to the plate – this is, in fact, President Obama’s approach.
The parties who have not yet stepped up to the plate are the governments of the Arab nations that surround Israel, especially Syria, Lebanon, and the “Palestinian” territories. These governments obstruct the peace process and foment terrorism.
I am quite concerned that Senators Bayh and Risch, along with the rest of the American political establishment, have left out the need to place blame at the feet of those responsible: namely, the terrorist organizations active in and around Israel, the Arab governments who support them, both monetarily and in other ways, and the same Arab governments who use their “Palestinian” “brothers” as a political bargaining chip, leaving them in refugee camps rather than naturalizing them as citizens and allowing them to have normal, productive lives.
Israel is certainly not an innocent party in this process; however, it does at least seek to protect civilians on both sides of the conflict, a position never taken by an Arab nation. It does give full citizenship to Israeli Arabs, as contrasted with Arab nations who actively drive Jews out. It does regularly have free and open elections and a parliamentary democracy featuring Israeli Arabs. Tellingly, many Israeli papers publish articles about how terribly the Israeli government is handling the conflict!
I request that the Senator refrain from signing the letter unless it is revised to reflect reality. Sadly, I’m not sure that a Senator will ever write such a letter.
Gershon – Why are you putting quotes around Palestinian when describing the person? I mean sure, maybe if you don’t legitimize a Palestinian state but why the group of people that identify as Palestinian?
http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/overview.asp
or
http://middleeastfacts.com/Articles/Yashiko/Palestinians.html
And a Snopes investigation into a quasi-humorous letter is supposed to make us feel better?
The very fact that you put scare quotes around the word Palestinian shows that you don’t actually care about them. You don’t care that Arab governments don’t actually care about them – that fact only serves as a bargaining chip (now who’s talking?!) against these governments in Israel’s favor.
It’s interesting that had you not used those scare quotes, I would have considered your spiel mildly credible.
Fair enough, B.BarNavi. It was a cheapshot.
Also, I do really care that Arab governments treat Palestinians like crap. It drives home the power of Operations Solomon, Magic Carpet, et al. It also makes me even more pissed off at the Rabbanut for the way they treat Russian olim, converts, etc. It makes me really sad that Arab governments don’t care about Jewish life OR Palestinian life…maybe there’s an opportunity for a connection there?
It makes me really sad that Arab governments don’t care about Jewish life OR Palestinian life…maybe there’s an opportunity for a connection there?
It’s because anything resembling what we in the West consider peace will occur in the Middle East only after the Arab world undergoes a process of liberalization and demomcratization.
The problem is none of us know how to get there . . . . ending the West’s oil addiction might be a good place to start, though.