Could you, please, read the following message of the Churches for Middle East Peace, write the needed letter and send it immediatly. Could you please tell your community, your friends and everybody who beleive in our CAUSE to do the same.

God bless you, Thanks Rev. Labib Kobti

Write your members of Congress that you approve of the Administration's strengthening its relationship with the Palestinians. Your letter is necessary to counter the many who are lobbying that Israel must approve of U.S. contacts with the Palestinian Authority.

The Clinton Administration extended a warm hand of friendship to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat during his early March visit to Washington. Under pressure from the international community to stop Israel from going ahead with the building of Har Homa (a Jewish settlement in East Jerusalem), the Administration made an important policy decision - to elevate and enhance its relationship with the Palestinians. State Department spokesman Nick Burns said "it makes sense to us to grow closer to the Palestinian Authority because it is a partner and friend of the United States."

The U.S. then accepted Mr. Arafat's invitation to a meeting with Europe, Japan and Arab states in Gaza on Saturday, March 15. Many members of Congress were heavily lobbied to sign a letter to President Clinton urging him to not allow U.S. participation in the meeting. A Congressional letter (dated March 12) signed by forty-four members (listed below) notes that the purpose of "the meeting is to criticize Israel for its recent proposals regarding building in Jerusalem and redeployment from the West Bank." These members need to learn that you disapprove of their letter and think the U.S. government should join others in criticism of the Israeli government's building of Har Homa. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu rejected efforts by the United Nations and a direct appeal from President Clinton to delay the project. U.S. Consul General Edward Abington did attend the meeting in Gaza; nevertheless, Israel began construction on March 19.

All members of Congress, both representatives and senators, need letters showing enthusiastic support for the new, elevated and enhanced U.S.-Palestinian relationship. Ask Congress members to be a friend of both the Palestinians and the Israelis - that is the only way to promote Middle East peace.

SIGNERS OF THE LETTER