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Demolitions
in East Jerusalem Neighborhood of Silwan Put Prospects
for Peace in Jeopardy
Dear Friends of Brit Tzedek
v'Shalom,
Please call on President Bush to insist
that the Israeli government halt current plans for the
demolition of 88 Palestinian homes in the East Jerusalem
neighborhood of Silwan, which will affect the lives of some 1000 Palestinians.
The U.S. government must make it clear that Israel should
desist from any actions that would prejudice the status
of East Jerusalem in a negotiated two-state solution.
In an action alert in late May, we
asked you to speak out against the expansion of the
West Bank settlement of Maale Adumim, which would have
cut off Arab East Jerusalem from the West Bank. Largely
because of pressure from the international community,
including the U.S. government, that expansion plan was
halted.
But now, there are indications that
the Sharon government is taking calculated measures
to reduce the Palestinian population within East Jerusalem.
Such actions in East Jerusalem are
harmful to Israel. The Palestinian leadership has made
it clear that there can be no Palestinian state without
East Jerusalem as its capital. Just two weeks ago, President
Bush warned that Israel should not take actions that
"prejudice final-status negotiations with regard to
Gaza, the West Bank and Jerusalem." These home demolitions
in Silwan--beyond the hardships that they impose on
large numbers of people--damage the credibility of the
Israeli government as a partner to a negotiated two-state
solution. For the sake of a peaceful future for Israel,
these demolitions must be stopped.
Send a
message to President Bush and your congressional
representatives now.
Please share this action alert with family, friends, and colleagues.
B'shalom,
Steve Masters, Chair of Advocacy and
Public Policy
Diane Balser, Vice President and Co-Chair of Advocacy
and Public Policy
We encourage you to take action by
JUNE 14, 2005.
Sample
Letter
Send a letter to the following decision maker(s):
President George W. Bush
CC: Your Congressional Representative and Senators
Subject: Demolitions in East Jerusalem Neighborhood of
Silwan Put Prospects for Peace in Jeopardy
Dear [decision maker name automatically
inserted here],
As an American Jew, I am alarmed
by the reports of the Israeli government's demolition
order for 88 homes in the East Jerusalem neighborhood
of Silwan, affecting some 1000 Palestinian residents.
These home demolitions in Silwan--beyond the hardships
that they impose on large numbers of people--damage
the credibility of the Israeli government as a partner
to a negotiated two-state solution.
I was heartened by your statement two weeks ago that
Israel should not take actions that "prejudice final-status
negotiations with regard to Gaza, the West Bank and
Jerusalem." I respectfully request that you take concrete
action on that statement and insist that the Israeli
government halt current plans for the demolition of
Palestinian homes in Silwan. The U.S. government must
make it clear that Israel should desist from any steps
that would prejudice the status of East Jerusalem in
a negotiated two-state solution.
I, along with the members and supporters of Brit Tzedek
v'Shalom, a network of thousands of American Jews, call
on you to take the lead at this crucial time to help
bring about a negotiated two-state settlement to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Sincerely,
Laurie Ross
cc:
Your Congressional Representative
Your Senators
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