ISRAEL-PALESTINE: Call on Congress to support the Administration’s efforts, to take action to end the violence

from the Faith Forum on Middle East Policy

NOTE: Pax Christi USA is a member of the Faith Forum. This is their “Third Thursday for Israel-Palestine” action for August. 

1. Support a durable ceasefire and a lasting peace

The latest conflict between the Israeli military and Palestinian groups in Gaza has claimed the lives of more than 1,400 civilians and has resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. The destruction of Gaza has been catastrophic.

A durable ceasefire is necessary for the welfare of all. In addition, it is abundantly clear that the underlying causes of this human tragedy must be addressed. All aspects of Israel’s illegal military occupation will need to end, in order for a just and secure future to result.

2. Thank the White House for good news

There is good news about recent steps taken by the Administration. According to the Wall Street Journal, U.S. officials have put on hold the transfer of Hellfire missiles to Israel, and the White House has issued instructions that additional requests for transfers must be cleared through the Administration.

Your support is needed to keep these policy changes in place. Call the White House to thank them for these steps.

3. Call on Congress to take action

Call on Congress to support the Administration’s efforts and to take action to end the violence – for today, and for the future. Let your senators and representative know that as a person of faith, respecting the dignity of every human being, you call on them to:

• Support the Administration’s hold on transferring Hellfire missiles to Israel and support its plans to oversee future transfers.
• Insist on a lasting ceasefire by all parties.
• Condemn all violence against civilians, both by Palestinians and by Israeli forces. It is clear that indiscriminate rocket from Gaza hits civilian areas in Israel.  It also must be made clear that in Gaza, where 1.8 million (CIA World Factbook, July 2014 estimate) people live in a 140-square-mile area, with borders controlled by Israel and Egypt, civilians are consistently in harm’s way from Israeli fire, regardless of the intended target.
• Insist on an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land, including an end to the Gaza blockade.
• Recognize that U.S. diplomatic and financial support enable the occupation. The U.S. provides over $3 billion per year in military aid to Israel.
• Condition military aid to Israel on its compliance with U.S. law and policy. Questions must be raised about how U.S. military aid to Israel is being used in order to ensure that it is not enabling human rights violations or being used in ways that contradict U.S. policy.

Now is the time to say: Enough. Call on Congress to stop U.S. complicity in suffering and to support U.S. policy for a just peace.

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Sample Letter/Email/Script for Call

Dear Senator/Representative,

The latest conflict between the Israeli military and Palestinian groups in Gaza has claimed the lives of more than 1,400 civilians, and has resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. The destruction of Gaza has been catastrophic.

A durable ceasefire is necessary for the welfare of all. In addition, it is abundantly clear that the underlying causes of this human tragedy must be addressed. All aspects of Israel’s illegal military occupation will need to end, in order for a just and secure future to result.

As a person of faith, respecting the dignity of every human being, I call on you to:

• Support the Administration’s hold on transferring Hellfire missiles to Israel and support its plans to oversee future transfers.
• Insist on a lasting ceasefire by all parties.
• Condemn all violence against civilians, both by Palestinians and by Israeli forces.
• Insist on an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land, including an end to the Gaza blockade.
• Recognize that U.S. diplomatic and financial support enable the occupation.
• Condition military aid to Israel on its compliance with U.S. law and policy. Questions must be raised about how U.S. military aid to Israel is being used in order to ensure that it is not enabling human rights violations or being used in ways that contradict U.S. policy.

I believe that such calls and actions by members of Congress will serve to support U.S. policy for a just peace.

Thank you for your consideration, and I remain grateful for your service,

[Your name]