For the first time in his presidency, President Bush will travel to Israel and the West Bank this coming week (January 8 and 9) in a public effort to accelerate negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. With violence escalating in and around Gaza and new settlements still planned in East Jerusalem, the peace negotiations relaunched at Annapolis are already threatened. In discussing Bush’s trip, news sources wonder anew – as they did prior to Annapolis - whether Bush will make do with nice words and not press substantive demands.

Please contact President Bush today and demand that he use his visit to bring the two sides back on track. Now is the time for the U.S. to live up to its commitments.

In the Joint Statement of Understanding delivered by President Bush at the Annapolis peace conference, the U.S. committed itself to “monitor and judge the fulfillment of the commitment of both sides of the road map.”  In keeping with this pledge, President Bush needs to tackle head-on the big issues standing in the way of any agreement:  a complete freeze on settlement construction, increased movement and access in the West Bank, and continued improvements in security infrastructure from the Palestinians. 

Additionally, with rockets still falling on Sderot and IDF raids into Gaza almost a daily occurrence, Israeli security figures are increasingly calling for a Hamas-Israel ceasefire. President Bush must encourage Israel to pursue that option through whatever diplomatic means are necessary.

There can be no turning back from Annapolis.  Please contact President Bush today!

Sample Letter for Campaign

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

As an American Jew, I am writing to urge you to use your upcoming visit to Israel and the West Bank to help accelerate negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, particularly in the most difficult issues of borders, refugees, and Jerusalem.

With violence escalating in and around Gaza and new settlements still planned in East Jerusalem, I fear that the peace negotiations relaunched at Annapolis are being threatened.

Now is the time for the U.S. to live up to its commitments.

In the Joint Statement of Understanding which you delivered at the Annapolis peace conference, you said your administration would "monitor and judge the fulfillment of the commitment of both sides of the road map."

In keeping with this pledge, it is time for you to take bold action and ensure sustained U.S. engagement to keep the negotiations moving forward. There must be strong opposition to all actions that undermine the peace process, including settlement construction, decreased movement and access in the West Bank, and unwillingness or inability to build the Palestinian security infrastructure.

Neither can the impact of the violence in and around Gaza be ignored. With rockets still falling on Sderot and IDF raids into Gaza almost a daily occurrence, Israeli security figures are increasingly calling for a Hamas-Israel ceasefire. I urge you to strongly encourage Israel to pursue that option through concerted diplomatic means.

I wish you a safe trip to Israel and the West Bank. I applaud your making the trip at this time and I urge you to please keep in mind your commitment to reaching a peace settlement by year's end.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
January 04, 2008