July 10, 2004
U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
476 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Fax: 202-228-0282
Re: H.Con.Res. 460 RFS
Dear Senator Clinton:
Last month, some members of our organization, Jews Against the Occupation (JATO-NYC), met in Washington with your Legislative Correspondent, Joshua Albert, along with representatives from several other member organizations of the U.S. Campaign to End the Occupation. We were very glad to have had the opportunity to present our views to your staff regarding the International Studies in Higher Education Act (H.R. 3077 RFS) and issues pertaining to the Israeli Separation Wall. We are now writing in the hopes of following up on that meeting with some more recent, pressing concerns.
As you may recall, JATO-NYC is a group of progressive, secular and religious Jews of all ages and backgrounds who live throughout the New York City area and who advocate for peace through justice for Palestinians and Israelis alike. We continue to contact your office because we believe that you share cherished values with us, such as concern for the basic human rights of all persons regardless of race, sex, creed, sexual orientation, religion or nationality.
In addition to matters raised previously, we are particularly concerned about, and would like to discuss with you, H.Con.Res. 460 RFS ("Regarding the Security of Israel and the Principles of Peace in the Middle East"). As you know, HCR 460 RFS was recently sent to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and you will be asked to vote on it once it has been deliberated and brought back to the Senate floor.
HCR 460 RFS endorses principles layed out in President Bush's April 14, 2004 letter to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, which proposes limited Israeli disengagement from Gaza in return for allowing Israel to 1) maintain its illegal settlements in the West Bank, 2) continue constructing the Separation Wall, and 3) refuse Palestinian refugees their right under international law to return to any part of what is now Israel. HCR 460 RFS's endorsement of settlements not only trounces internationl law. Its unilateralism would reverse thirty years of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. Negotiations to determine the future of the Palestinian people cannot in all fairness be conducted between the United States and Israel alone, as HCR 460 RFS presumes: Palestinians must be full and equal parties to any deliberation that affects their fundamental rights, such as final borders.
In asking to meet with you to discuss HCR 460 RFS, we are requesting no more than a short period in which to elaborate our concerns and those of many of your constituents over this troubling resolution. You may reach our voice mail at (212) 539-6683. We look forward to meeting with you and thank you in advance for your time and attention.
Sincerely,
JATO-NYC Political Track