CMEP Bulletin: CMEP's Director on PBS, House Hearing Highlights Key Issues & Other Hill Updates
1. CMEP's Director Discusses Israeli Elections on PBS' Religion and Ethics Newsweekly
2. House Hearing: Members Highlight Settlements, Palestinian Unity, Humanitarian Issues
3. House Resolution Supporting Special Envoy Mitchell Up to 56 Co-sponsors
4. CMEP Sends Policy Guide to 111th Congress
If you missed today's CMEP network conference call with Professor Nathan Brown, "After Gaza: Challenges Facing Obama's Peace Efforts", you can listen to a recording at http://www.cmep.org/Audio/nathan-brown.mp3
1. CMEP's Director on PBS Religion and Ethics Newsweekly
CMEP's Executive Director, Warren Clark, appeared on PBS' Religion and Ethics Newsweekly show aired on Sunday, February 15th. Clark was a guest along with Rabbi Jack Moline of Agudas Achim Congregation in Alexandria, Virginia and chair of the Interfaith Alliance. Bob Abernethy moderation their discussion of the outcome of the Israeli election and prospects for reconciliation in the region.
Listen to the show and view the transcript:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/february-13-2009/israeli-election/2246/
2. House Hearing: Members Highlight Settlements, Palestinian Unity, Humanitarian Issues
The House Committee on Foreign Affair's Subcommittee on the Middle East and South held its first hearing of the year last Thursday, February 12th on "Gaza After the War: What Can Be Built on the Wreckage?". Speakers included David Makovsky, Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Ziad Asali, American Taskforce on Palestine, Michele Dunne, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and Danielle Pletka, American Enterprise Institute. Highlights from key statements by Members of Congress are included below. The speakers' testimonies can be viewed here: http://www.internationalrelations.house.gov/hearing_notice.asp?id=1046
Reps. Ackerman and Wexler Criticize Settlements
Representative Gary Ackerman (D-NY), chairman of the subcommittee and a longstanding Jewish-American leader in Congress, opened the hearing with an important statement identifying both Israeli and Palestinian actions as contributing to a situation in which the two-state solution may be "finally rendered impossible." Ackerman cited Israeli settlements as a key problem, saying the downward pressure comes "from terrorism and the march of settlements. It comes from the firing of rockets and the perpetration of settler pogroms?and yes, from diggings in Jerusalem as well." Ackerman was complementary of security efforts by the Palestinian Authority but said, "what can be made of the new and growing security dynamic in the West Bank, remains to be seen. A lot will depend on whether Israel--in a break from years of habit--can recognize its own self-interest in the success of this Palestinian enterprise." The full opening statement by Chairman Ackerman can be viewed here: http://www.house.gov/apps/list/speech/ny05_ackerman/WGS_021209.html
Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL), also a leading pro-Israel voice also highlighted the settlement issue, stressing that as a strong supporter of the state of Israel, he must state in an "unequivocal fashion, it is incumbent upon Israel to freeze settlement activity." While emphasizing that "Palestinians have enormous responsibilities" he said, "the notion that Israel can continue to expand settlements, whether it be through natural growth or otherwise without diminishing the capacity of a two-state solution is both unrealistic, and I would respectfully suggest hypocritical."
Ackerman and Wexler's comments are particularly significant in light of news that plans may be progressing for a major new expansion of the West Bank settlement of Efrat. The Obama Administration has not yet commented on Israeli settlement activity, but a Feb. 15th article by the Israeli journalist Avika Eldar in Haaretz reported that the Obama Administration "is preparing to put heavy pressure on the new [Israeli] government to freeze all settlement construction and keep its promises to lift roadblocks."
Rep. Ellison on Palestinian Unity and Gaza's Borders; Rep. McMahon on Humanitarian Issues and Peace
Representative Keith Ellison (D-MN), the first Muslim-American Member of Congress, probed the hearing speakers on key issues related to Gaza, including initiating a discussion about unity among Palestinian factions. Ellison said, "we have now a three-state situation not a two-state" and asked, "What position should the U.S. take regarding Palestinian unity talks?" He noted that, "if Mr. Mahmoud Abbas said, I will sign any document you put in front of me, he still couldn't speak for all the Palestinian people." Michele Dunne from the Carnegie Endowment responded to Ellison's question, saying that, "this lack of Palestinian unity, lack of a unified leadership is a serious problem moving forward." She was encouraging of U.S. support for Egyptian efforts to "get Fatah and Hamas talking to each other and to try to work out some sort of a unified arrangement?so that there can be a restoration of some semblance of connection or unity between the West Bank and Gaza once again."
Ellison also highlighted the need to open up Gaza's borders, asking, "What progress can we make in terms of opening up the crossings? As I understand from -- things I have read from UNRWA [there are] about 120 trucks going through the [Karni] crossing now and they need about 700 a day." Ziad Asali of the American Taskforce on Palestine affirmed that many truckloads are indeed not gaining access to Gaza and urged that the two related issues of humanitarian relief and reconstruction be "dealt with immediately."
Rep. Michael McMahon (D-NY), a new Member of Congress and new to the committee also pressed the speakers on Gaza's humanitarian situation, asking "what's going on in the daily lives of the people there?" In an opening statement he emphasized that he remains "hopeful that a secure peace agreement that embraces the two-state solution can be reached through the leadership of President Barack Obama and Senator Mitchell" and expressed hope that the subcommittee hearing would help "bring humanitarian relief to all those who suffer in the region and reaffirm Congress' "commitment that the only future for Israel and Palestine is a path to peace."
Article: http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1064162.html
Settlement: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/16/AR2009021601293.html?wprss=rss_world
3. House Resolution Supporting Special Envoy Mitchell Up to 56 Co-sponsors
House Resolution 130, expressing Congressional support for the appointment of Senator George Mitchell as Special Envoy for Middle East Peace has now garnered 56 sponsors. The resolution, initially introduced on Feb. 4th by a diverse group of Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Arab-American Representatives, Democrat and Republican, commits to supporting the Obama Administration's "vigorous pursuit of a diplomatic resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian and Israeli-Arab conflicts based on the establishment of 2 states" and reaffirms Middle East peace as "essential" to U.S. national security interests. View the full text of the resolution here. http://www.cmep.org/Legislative_Issues/MitchellEnvoyResolution.htm
CMEP is supporting this resolution along with a broad group of Jewish and Arab American organizations, including Americans for Peace Now, the Arab American Institute, Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, Israel Policy Forum, and J Street.
To check if your Representative is a current co-sponsor, please click here. http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:HE00130:@@@P. If he/she is, please send a note of thanks. If not, you can send an email urging support of H. Res. 130 with our online system by clicking here. http://action.cmep.org/t/4317/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=1038
4. CMEP Sends Policy Guide to 110th Congress
Last week CMEP delivered a policy guide to all House and Senate offices, outlining longstanding CMEP positions and key recommendations related to Middle East peace issues. The introduction to the policy guide urged Members of Congress to meet the challenges of conflict and instability in the Middle East with "compassion, understanding and a strong will to act ? for the wellbeing of all the peoples of the region and the United States." The guide includes six sections: U.S. Leadership and Diplomacy; The Two-State Solution; U.S. Policy and Israel; U.S. Policy and the Palestinians; Holy Land Christians; Jerusalem- Home to Two Peoples, Three Faiths; U.S. Policy Toward Iran; and A Comprehensive Peace and Regional Issues.
The policy guide was accompanied by a cover letter with greetings to the 111th Congress. Also included was a copy of the ecumenical letter to President Obama urged a priority for Holy Land peace that was signed by 41 national leaders and 17,000 Christians from all 50 states. The cover letter reminded Representatives and Senators that their actions have a "profound impact on U.S. national security and relationships throughout the region and the world" and urged them to consult CMEP's policy guide as they consider legislation and make statements on Middle East peace issues.
View policy guide > http://www.cmep.org/Legislative_Issues/CMEP_Policy_Guide.pdf