“Washington Wednesday” Action Alert on Separation Barrier
03 September 2003
“Washington Wednesday” Action Alert on Separation Barrier
Urge Deductions in Israel’s Loan Guarantees for Spending on the Wall and Settlements
Contact Congress and the Administration and Make Your Voice Heard
‘Washington Wednesday’ is a monthly national day of advocacy for a just resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict organized by a coalition of national organizations. Participating organizations are: American Muslims for Jerusalem (AMJ), Arab American Institute (AAI), Council for the National Interest (CNI), Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), the government affairs affiliate of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (NAAA-ADC), Partners for Peace, and the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation. (The US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation is a nonsectarian coalition of more than 85 organizations, including the American Friends Service Committee, MADRE, the Center for Economic and Social Rights, and Black Voices for Peace.)
ACTION REQUESTED: On Wednesday, September 3, join activists around the country in faxing, calling, or emailing the White House and Congress and asking them to deduct from U.S.-backed loan guarantees to Israel the amount of money that Israel is spending on the Separation Barrier (also known as the wall or fence) and settlements in the Palestinian territories. This action alert will remain valid until further notice, so please continue to follow-up and keep the pressure on after September 3rd as well.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
White House: phone 202-456-1111, fax 202-456-2461,
president@whitehouse.gov
Congress: switchboard 202-224-3121 or 1-800-839-5276; detailed contact information for individual Members of Congress can be found at http://www.congress.org.
TALKING POINTS:
· The United States should implement the terms of an already existing agreement. In August, Israel and the United States signed an agreement on the terms and conditions of the $9 billion loan guarantees authorized by Congress in April 2003. The agreement specifies that Israeli government investments beyond the Green Line will be deducted from the loan guarantees, according to the Israeli financial paper Globes (Aug. 21).
· Congress has already mandated that loan guarantees cannot be used in Palestinian territories. According to House Resolution 1559 (Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2003), US loan guarantees to Israel may be issued “only to support activities in the geographic areas which were subject to the administration of the Government of Israel before June 5, 1967.” Furthermore, the legislation stipulates that the amount of the loan guarantees shall be reduced “for activities which the President determines are inconsistent with the objectives and understanding reached between the United States and Israel regarding the implementation of the loan guarantee program.”
· Precedent exists for the United States deducting money from Israel’s loan guarantees. Between 1993-1997, the United States deducted between $800-$900 million in loan guarantees to Israel because of expenditures made by the Israeli government beyond the Green Line.
· The Administration Finds the Wall to Be a Major Obstacle to a Just Peace. On July 25, 2003, President Bush stated: “I think the wall is a problem…it is very difficult to develop confidence between the Palestinians and Israel with a wall snaking through the West Bank.”
· The Wall and Settlements Undermine the Chances for a Just Peace and Security. Israel is free to build border structures within its internationally recognized borders. The wall that Israel is constructing, however, frequently runs deep into the West Bank and is being built in many places on confiscated Palestinian territory rather than in Israel or along the Green Line. The wall is creating tragic humanitarian consequences by cutting off access to precious water resources and 40,000 acres of prime agricultural land in the West Bank. Entire villages and cities are being completely enclosed or trapped between the wall and the Green Line and neighbors and even family members are being cut off from each other. If the wall is completed, analysts estimate that 45-55% of the West Bank would lie outside of the wall and be inaccessible to Palestinians.
The Separation Barrier and the continued expansion of Israel’s illegal settlements will make impossible the formation of a viable and sovereign Palestinian state. No wall can achieve the security that both Israelis and Palestinians are seeking. Only a just peace can do so.
MODEL LETTER (Please Personalize)
Dear _______,
I strongly urge you to ensure that the United States deducts from its loan guarantees to Israel the amount of money that Israel is spending in its illegal occupation of Palestinian territories to construct a wall in the West Bank and maintain and expand its settlements. According to an August 2003 agreement, Israeli government investments beyond the Green Line will be deducted from the loan guarantees.
The legislation (HR 1559, Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2003) passed by Congress authorizing loan guarantees also mandated deductions should Israel take certain actions in the territories. According to this law, US loan guarantees to Israel may be issued “only to support activities in the geographic areas which were subject to the administration of the Government of Israel before June 5, 1967.” Furthermore, the legislation stipulates that the amount of the loan guarantees shall be reduced “for activities which the President determines are inconsistent with the objectives and understanding reached between the United States and Israel regarding the implementation of the loan guarantee program.”
Precedent exists for the United States deducting money from Israel’s loan guarantees. Between 1993-1997, the United States deducted between $800-$900 million in loan guarantees to Israel because of expenditures made by the Israeli government beyond the Green Line.
On July 25, 2003, President Bush stated: “I think the wall is a problem…it is very difficult to develop confidence between the Palestinians and Israel with a wall snaking through the West Bank.” I agree with President Bush that Israel’s construction of the wall is a major obstacle to a just peace. The same danger to peace is posed by Israel’s expanding settlements and outposts.
The wall runs deep into the West Bank and is being built on confiscated Palestinian territory. The wall is creating tragic humanitarian consequences by cutting off access to precious water resources and 40,000 acres of prime agricultural land in the West Bank. Entire villages and cities are being completely enclosed or trapped between the wall and the Green Line and neighbors and even family members are being cut off from each other. If the wall is completed, analysts estimate that 45-55% of the West Bank would lie outside of the wall and be inaccessible to many Palestinians cordoned off on the other side. Along with the continued expansion of Israel’s illegal settlements, this would make impossible the formation of a viable and sovereign Palestinian state. By building the Separation Barrier on the Palestinian side of the Green Line, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon gives the distinct impression that this is not about security but grabbing land.
Only a just peace can truly protect Israelis and Palestinians from the violence that once again is gripping them. The Separation Barrier will not advance a positive outcome, but seems certain to set it back.
The United States can in no way condone these harmful and illegal activities that are so damaging to the chances of establishing a just peace between Palestinians and Israelis. Therefore, as required by law, the United States must make deductions in Israel’s loan guarantees for its expenditures beyond the Green Line.
I look forward to receiving a reply detailing the steps that you will take to make sure that these deductions are made.
Sincerely,
(Your contact information here)
