With the way they f&%#cked up and funded the Iraq occupation a couple weeks ago, it’s hard to have anything to do with the Democrats these days. But an e-mail from Progressive Democrats of America this morning tells me that (inmyhumbleopinion) there are at least a few real progressive Democrats out there.
The e-mail — from Olive Tree Democrats, “A project of Progressive Democrats of America” — is mainly about the June 11 Lobby Day for Israeli/Palestinian Peace and End to Occupation. But it also reminds us of the June 10 march and of a terrible anniversary (emphasis added throughout):
On June 10 and 11, people around the world are joining together in a Day of Action to mark the 40th year of Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem. …
Tens of thousands will march in Washington D.C. on June 10, and hundreds of activists will be lobbying Congress on June 11. Add your voice to theirs! Call your representative in support of H. Res 143, in support of a special US envoy for Middle East Peace. To reach the Capitol switchboard dial 1-202-224-3121 or call toll free: 1-888-597-0909. (Find your representative here) This is the best way to show support for the Arab League’s recent peace proposal, which the US and Israel have been slow to endorse.
As you can see, the PDA’s Olive Tree Democrats (see ++ below for more on where they’re coming from) specifically asks us to support H Res 143 (Appoint a Special Envoy for Middle East Peace), sponsored by Susan Davis of San Diego. They suggest writing your Representative something like this:
I’m writing to you in support of efforts to promote peace between the Israeli and Palestinian people. There are many things we can do at this time to support the Arab League’s recent reintroduction of their 2002 peace proposal.
One of the most important is the appointment of a special envoy for Middle East peace (H Res 143).
I care about the future of both Israelis and Palestinians. Steps to end the occupation of the Palestinian people will improve the lives of everyone in the Middle East.
If you still can’t stand having anything to do with the damn Democrats, then follow the lead of the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee, which says you should write something like the following to your Congressperson about H Res 143:
I am contacting you to express my support for H.Res. 143, Congresswoman Davis’ (D-CA) resolution urging President Bush to appoint a special envoy for Middle East peace. I urge you to cosponsor and support this resolution.
Davis’ resolution rightly points out that it is in our nation’s best interest to promote peace and dialogue in the Middle East. For the past several years, the United States has neglected its diplomatic efforts toward ending the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. It is imperative that we act as an honest broker and uphold international law while working toward a lasting peace. A just resolution to the conflict will be in the best interest of Israelis and Palestinians and serve to ameliorate long standing grievances between the Arab world and Israel.
The last few years have seen the US pursue foreign policy objectives which have severely tarnished the image of the US around the globe. Our policies in the Middle East should be implemented through dialogue and diplomacy as opposed to invasions and sanctions. Appointing a special envoy to the Middle East to work on peace between the Israelis and Palestinians would go a long way toward helping repair American’s image in the international community and particularly in the Arab and Muslim world.
A just and lasting peace in the Middle East is needed now more than ever. Reengagement of American diplomatic efforts that are even handed and uphold international law are in the best interest of the Palestinians, Israelis as well as Americans. Congress should pass H.Res 143 and President Bush should appoint a special envoy to the conflict.
Thank you for your consideration of this matter.
++ From the Olive Tree Democrats’ (draft?) Mission Statement:
The vast majority of Democrats – and Americans – support a negotiated, just, and peaceful solution between the Israel and the Palestinian people, as represented by their lawfully elected governments. OTD believes that any just solution will require the establishment of two states as a precondition for achieving a lasting peace, and that the 1949 Green Line armistice line must serve as the basis for any future border or territory swaps. Palestinian claims regarding refugees, restitution, equal rights and freedom of movement must be seen as the equal of Israeli security needs. OTD’s approach is consistent with that of most Israeli and Palestinian peace organizations, the current Arab League peace initiative, international law and UN resolutions.
PDA keeps sounding better and better, hope they don’t disillusion me anytime soo.
This groups sounds good..but do you think they can buck the establishment dems? I think the AIPAC-Congress incest ring will have to busted wide open to really change the dynamics.
I’ll tell you when I think the congress-israel marriage made in hell will end….when americans like me with no dog in the hunt, but who are royally pissed with our country supporting what amounts to a slow motion genoicide ..decide to pick off the offending politicans one by one.
Every time I see something on this that really infuriates me I call DC. I have left several aides speechless already. I called Hoyer’s office some time ago and read them a portion of his AIPAC speech and asked who if he understood who he worked for and that americans were reading his speech and asking why he was demanding other US office holders pledge alleigence to a foreign country…..sputter,sputter, sputter went the staffer. It’s amazing when you confront them directly on their treason on AIPAC’s behalf how quickly they start sputtering.
I don’t do nice letters, I do direct confrontation…I can assure you until congress is made aware they are the employee and we are the “employers” nothing is going to change.
On the other hand I do donate to certain politicans…called Betty McCollumns office back when she kicked AIPAC out and then sent a donation speficially saying WHY I was donating to her.
But by far the best incentive for politicans is fear…of losing their office. In fact I am going to do a few letters citing some statements from Wexler and Hoyer and Hunter and Nadler on various things regarding AIPAC and Israel..but I am sending them to the FBI outlining my concerns about these politicans as ‘security risk” and only cc’ing them to the offending parties. If they don’t like it piss on them…I am going to excerise my right with goverment agency in the country until congress learns who they work for or we replace them all.
If you are an American citizen these people work for you..treat them that way and fire them if they don’t perform.
Okay just what diplomat to believe AIPAC would approve as an envoy to the Middle East as a mediator of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? Indyk?
Condi is just threading water waiting for the next US president and the next Israel MP. Since Netanyahu is leading the polls against both Labor candidates, the way to do is to follow Jeff Halper’s lead and educate the American public as to the truth. That reminds me. I haven’t pumped up Peace, Propaganda, & The Promised Land in a while.
I mainly like the Olive Tree Democrats’ mission statement, especially this part, referring to who the U.S. should be negotiating with: “the Palestinian people, as represented by their lawfully elected governments”
Similarly in the resolution, it says much more indirectly that Hamas should be negotiated with:
The dems…pshtt! they won’t do a damn thing.
To settle this we need a president who will do two things.
Maybe I’m just a cynic, but it sounds like Israel will get all the water and the Palestinians will get a pre-failed state without the land necessary to become anything but a pre-failed state. I suspect that it was more than just naked aggression that lead to Israel immediately deciding that it could not live within the 1948 borders – but in fact the land base was not truly large enough for a viable country.
Phrase not found. Maybe we need a little discussion on just what it is we are giving up here in terms of international law before we give it up.
I guess it can get worse. Perhaps while we are at it we will recognise that Aryans also have a right to state hood too. So much for freedom of religion in Israel, as this document in effect exempts Jews from that.
That’s a joke, as this document guts them.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Well it’s beem some time since I read over the Geneva Int. but it seemed better than the Clinton Plan or the “RoadMap”.
My suggestion has always been to revert to the original UN borders and bargin from there if either side wants changes….but that’s doesn’t seem likely to happen unless I am elected president.
But if my memory is right the Geneva did call for a number of Palestines to be able to return and the rest be given compensation for their property.
Frankly, I think the refugee and Jerusalem problems are vastly over-rated. Realistically, since it’s been 60 years there aren’t that many refugees anymore. This ugly fact was entirely planned by Israel, I’m sure, but that doesn’t make it less than a fact. Unless we consider children of refugees to be refugees, and I’m not sure if I do. I think the kids should be very generously compensated but I’m not sure whether they should have the right of ‘return’ to someplace they’ve never been. Of course they should be given the opportunity to return to the Palestinian territories.
As for Jerusalem, just re-divide it the way it was before the ’67 war. Period.
There really are no harsh or intractable problems for Israel in any future agreement. The Arabs are already on board with going along with Israel’s 1967 borders and mildly nuanced/fudged right of a return.
So what we have, OBVIOUSLY, is simple intransigence because the powers that be in Israel think they can get away with swallowing all of Palestine whole. And they will get away with it till the U.S. or equally powerful military/political/economic force convinces them otherwise.
The refugees have not “died off”. They have instead had children. I have heard numbers as high as 7 million refugees currently. Because so many are stateless, like their parents, their home is in fact Israel, and there is no other alternative at the current time.
I’m all in favour of offering the refugees citizenship between any western country of their choice and Israel. I bet that would radically limit the number who wanted to return home.
If they had been taken in one could make an argument that they had different homes, and after a couple of generations maybe return makes less sense. After all, Jews now have different homes than Spain, and it does not seem right to try to seek punishment for what happened in 1492.
The Cyprus issue was interesting. In particular right of return was bent like a pretzel, but not broken. If I remember right, unfortunately racism still won out.
I didn’t know that. But in case what I said is true, the issue is now (as I said) refugee children and grandchildren. And we just disagree on the quality and strength of their rights.
No, if we disagree on the strength of their rights – we disagree on far more than that.