Media reports on the escalating violence in the Middle East are devastating, yet the United States has taken only the most minimal steps to end the violence.  Please email your Senators today asking that they call upon President Bush and his Administration to take a strong leadership role in resolving the conflict. 

On Friday, July 21, the Presiding Bishop and other Churches for Middle East Peace leaders wrote to President Bush stating: 

In the face of such a humanitarian crisis, calls for the fighting parties to be restrained in their actions fall short of what is needed.  Your presidential leadership and the full weight of the United States, acting in concert with the international community, must be applied now to achieve an immediate cease-fire and to launch an intensive diplomatic initiative for the cessation of hostilities. This is a necessary first step toward the diplomatic resolution of this crisis and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the way toward a comprehensive Middle East peace.  (Click here for the full text of the letter.) 

The Episcopal Church has long supported a two-state solution in the Holy Land that would enable a secure Israel and a viable state of Palestine to live side by side in peace.  That vision, however, diminishes as the violence escalates.  Pressure from Senators to the White House is an effective way to influence administration policy. That is why we are asking you to contact your Senators about the Middle East conflict this week.

 MORE INFORMATION:

US Role:  US must take a stronger leadership role to resolve the conflict than it has to date including demanding an immediate cease fire and moving to initiate a peace process for the Israeli/Palestinian situation.   Secretary Rice traveling to the region is positive but not enough.  She was successful in negotiating between the Israelis and Palestinians on the Karni crossing into Gaza, but without follow-up, the agreement was never realized.  Secretaries of State James Baker and Warren Christopher were both able to undertake this kind of mission – it is hard but not impossible and must come with a sustained commitment.

Core of the Problem:  We must always remember that the Israeli/Palestinian situation is the core of what is going on.  If there was a real peace process, it would marginalize Hezbollah and Hamas and strengthen moderates in other Arab states and among Palestinians, including President Abbas and the Government of Lebanon.  The best weapon to combat terrorism is to negotiate an Israeli-Palestinian peace and the sharing of Jerusalem.   

Humanitarian Situation:  We strongly condemn the taking of prisoners and acts of terrorism by Hezbollah and Hamas militants.  However, the response of the Israeli Government has been disproportionate to the situation.  The death and maiming of innocent civilians and the destruction of their infrastructure – power supplies, homes, transportation routes, etc. – is a humanitarian disaster that will not soon be fixed or forgotten.    Lebanon had only recently recovered from its previous war and Gaza’s chances for stability diminish daily.  As King Abdullah of Jordan said last Thursday:  “Allowing the impoverishment of millions will not only exacerbate humanitarian suffering, it will also aggravate the security crisis of Palestinians and Israelis, making a return to negotiations even more difficult.”  His is one of the moderate voices to which we should be listening.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Most recent Churches for Middle East letters signed by the Presiding Bishop:

Griswold, other church leaders press Bush to call for Hezbollah-Israel ceasefire (July 21) 
Presiding Bishop signs statement on Gaza, Hezbollah-Israel conflicts (July 20)

Letter to President Bush signed by the Presiding Bishops of The Episcopal Church and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Policy for Action Online: Middle East
Policy for Action Online: Supporting Human Rights and Reconciliation