February 10, 2005
The Honorable Nydia Velazquez
268 Broadway, 2nd Floor
Brooklyn, New York 11211
Fax: 718-599-3558
RE: H.R. 418 (REAL ID Act of 2005)
Dear Representative Velazquez:
We are writing you on behalf of Jews Against the Occupation (JATO) to share our
views about H.R. 418 (REAL ID Act of 2005), proposed recently to the House by
Congressman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI). We are asking that you vote against this
bill and, at the very least, that you demand its language be modified to reflect
diplomatic reason and fairness.
As you may recall from previous correspondence and our positive visit to your
New York City offices in 2003, JATO is a group of progressive, secular and
religious Jews of all ages and backgrounds who live throughout metropolitan New
York City and advocate for peace through justice for both Palestinians and
Israelis. We continue to contact your offices because we believe you share
cherished values with us, such as concern for the basic human rights of all
persons regardless of race, gender, creed, sexual orientation, religion, or
nationality.
Whereas H.R. 418's primary focus on immigrant legislation is bad enough (new
drivers license provisions entailing heightened asylum restrictions), four
appended lines relating to Palestine contain language that would not allow any
representatives or spokespersons for the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)
into the United States-not even for United Nations visits-and wrongly considers
anyone involved with the PLO to be engaged in "terrorist activity." This added
provision has grave implications for the U.S.'s role in helping achieve a just
and lasting resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
As you know, the new Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, is chairman of the
PLO. While Mr. Abbas' election promises a positive and constructive turn in the
Middle East peace process, Sensenbrenner's bill, should it pass, would not only
disallow Mr. Abbas and his colleagues free entry into the U.S. For the United
States to support a just and lasting resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict, all parties involved in that conflict must be allowed access to the
negotiating table. Diplomats of a future Palestinian or Israeli-Palestinian
binational state should be able to visit the United States at will. H.R. 418's
prohibition against such would surely jeopardize Palestinian faith and trust in
U.S. diplomatic efforts, thereby undermining the Bush administration's efforts,
as evidenced by Secretary of State Rice's recent visit to Israel, to negotiate
an end to violence in the region.
We welcome the opportunity to discuss this matter with you further. You may
reach our voicemail at (212) 539-6683 or the undersigned at (212) 580-8081. We
look forward to the possibility of speaking with you and thank you in advance
for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Jews Against the Occupation