Sent: Wednesday, December 31,
2008
Subject: Open Letter on Crisis
in Gaza
Dear Friends and
Colleagues,
Below is AFSC's
Open Letter to President Bush and President-Elect Obama about the current
crisis in Gaza. It is serious, and
we ask our leaders to fully engage to solve it.
I want to report
that we have heard from our staff in Gaza. They said they're unharmed but staying close to home. Power
is out most of the time in Gaza City.
I ask everyone to
hold our colleagues and the people of the Gaza Strip, as well as all people in
the region, in the Light.
Mary Ellen
Open Letter to
President Bush and President-Elect Obama
December 31,
2008
Dear President
Bush and President-Elect Obama,
As an
organization with 60 years of experience working in the Gaza Strip and
committed to a peaceful future between Palestinians and Israelis, we are
saddened and distressed at the spiraling violence in Gaza over the past five
days. As a Quaker organization that cares deeply about the life, dignity, and
security of all people, we ask you to take immediate action to end this spiral
of violence.
We urge you to
take all steps necessary to end the Israeli attacks against Gaza, which have as
of this writing taken more than 370 lives, injured thousands, and destroyed
many homes and properties. The military strike is in addition to a two year-old
siege imposed by the Israeli government, and supported by the U.S. government,
that has severely restricted the importation of food, medicine, fuel and other
essential goods necessary to maintain the well-being of more than 1.4 million
people in the Gaza Strip.
The
disproportionate Israeli siege and military assault continue a policy of
collective punishment. The time has long-passed to end this policy.
At the same time,
we recognize that Hamas's decision to launch rocket attacks into Israel has
threatened the safety of Israeli civilians and incurred tragic consequences for
the people of Gaza.
So the cycle of
violence deepens. Even today, Hamas threatens to increase the number of rockets
fired into Israel in retaliation for the Israeli siege and air strikes. Israel
justifies the siege and the attacks because of the rocket attacks. It's an
untenable situation that need not continue.
Violence must be
replaced with negotiations. Both the air strikes and the embargo should end
immediately. Israel should engage in diplomacy with the Palestinians, including
Hamas as elected leaders of the Palestinian legislature. And every effort
should be made through the good offices of the Arab states to urge Hamas to
re-establish the cease fire and put forth a good-faith effort to end the
current violence.
Given its
tremendous regional influence, the United States can move the parties toward a
peaceful resolution. The U.S. supports Israel militarily, financially, and
politically. You have the power to
end weapon sales to Israel; weapons that are often used against civilians. We
urge that you also stop supporting the embargo on Gaza.
The U.S.
government has supported an Israeli militarist strategy that has not, and will
not, lead to a lasting peace. Only a solution based in fairness, respect, and
security for both Palestinians and Israelis will offer the peace that all so
desperately seek and deserve. Only creative dialogue and negotiation, not
military force, can lay the path to that solution.
We urge you to
use your power and influence well so that U.S. policy can move further along
the path to peace. We hope that
this New Year is a more peaceful one, in the Middle East, the U.S., and
throughout the world.
Sincerely,
Mary Ellen
McNish
General
Secretary,
American Friends
Service Committee
<MEMcNish@afsc.org>