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Dear Friend of Brit Tzedek,
What a week...
... the Netanyahu coalition government finally sworn in,
followed almost immediately by outrageous statements or blatant
non-statements from the new leadership, calling into question
even the most basic commitment to a peace process. (A position
not supported by the majority of the Israeli people.)
Discouraging, to say the least.
The good news? During this same week, in Washington, DC, in
Saudi Arabia, and again in Turkey, President Obama made it clear
that he is not interested in foot-dragging and pessimism.
We need to make it equally clear that we stand
strongly behind President Obama and his principled public stance
in favor of Israeli-Palestinian peace.
Consider this Israeli-U.S. dialogue via speech-making over
the past week.
In over decades of public service, Prime Minister Netanyahu
has not once endorsed a two-state solution, including his first
week in office.
President Obama's response: "Let me be clear: The
United States strongly supports the goal of two states, Israel
and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security."
Within hours of taking office, Foreign Minister Avigdor
Lieberman announced that the 2007 Annapolis peace process "has
no validity".
President Obama countered that the U.S. will
continue to pursue the goal of two states agreed to both in
the road map and at the Annapolis meeting. This means freezing
settlements, evacuating outposts, ending Palestinian violence,
and negotiations on all core issues.
Obama also praised the Arab Peace Initiative, offering Israel
normalization of relations with the Arab world in exchange for
the establishment of a Palestinian state, in a meeting with King
Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, and reportedly plans to adopt
it.
"There is no Cabinet resolution regarding negotiations with
Syria," quipped Lieberman, "and we have already said that we
will not agree to withdraw from the Golan Heights."
President Obama’s position? “We
[support] negotiations between Syria and Israel."
Encourage the President to go the whole nine yards.
Encourage him to take the necessary steps to see his vision
– and yours – come to fruition, whatever it may
take.
B'Shalom,
Sue Swartz, Chair of Advocacy
Deepa Domansky, Washington Liaison and Advocacy
Coordinator
P.S. Please share this Action Alert with family,
friends, and colleagues.
Send a letter to the following
decision maker(s):
President Barack Obama
Below is the sample
letter:
Subject: Thank you for taking a principled public stance on
Israeli-Palestinian peace
Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],
As a Jewish supporter of a negotiated two-state resolution of
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, I want to thank you for your
principled stance for peace. I applaud your strong support for
two states and your expectation that the parties follow through
on previously negotiated agreements. I encourage you to take the
necessary steps to see your vision -- and mine-- come to
fruition, whatever it may take.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
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