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"Rand Paul really, really, sucks, <br>
while in contrast, <br>
Hillary Clinton doesn't suck."<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 01/14/2015 03:58 AM, Robert Naiman
via Peace-discuss wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote
cite="mid:CALMNhNTqV0Vy+RQaHfDDTMYGsrpWVSwbXMBNs+6M2CxT11hVjg@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
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<div class="gmail_quote">JFP's alert is here:</div>
<div class="gmail_quote"><br>
</div>
<div class="gmail_quote">Rand Paul: Accept Palestinians’
Right to Join the ICC<br>
</div>
<div class="gmail_quote"><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/rand-paul-accept-palestinian?source=c.em&r_by=1135580"
target="_blank">http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/rand-paul-accept-palestinian?source=c.em&r_by=1135580</a><br>
</div>
<div class="gmail_quote"><br>
</div>
<div class="gmail_quote">Code Pink's alert is here:</div>
<div class="gmail_quote"><br>
</div>
<div class="gmail_quote">Rand Paul: Accept Palestinians'
Right to Join the ICC<br>
</div>
<div class="gmail_quote"><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://codepink.salsalabs.com/o/424/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=7244"
target="_blank">http://codepink.salsalabs.com/o/424/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=7244</a><br>
</div>
<div class="gmail_quote"><br>
</div>
<div class="gmail_quote">I wrote about this here:</div>
<div class="gmail_quote"><br>
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<div class="gmail_quote">Rand Paul: Kicking Palestinians
Is a Freebie<br>
</div>
<div class="gmail_quote"><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/rand-paul-palestine-icc_b_6445974.html"
target="_blank">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/rand-paul-palestine-icc_b_6445974.html</a><br>
</div>
<div class="gmail_quote"><br>
</div>
<div class="gmail_quote">====
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<div><br>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:16.3636360168457px"><b>Faith
Forum on Middle East Peace</b></span></p>
<div>
<div class="h5">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
style="font-size:12pt">January
2015</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
style="font-size:12pt">Tell your
elected officials: Don't punish the
Palestinians for signing
international treaties and
conventions, including the Rome
Statute of the
International Criminal Court</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12pt"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12pt">Following the
defeat of a UN
Security Council resolution that would
have set parameters and a timeline for
addressing
the Israeli-Palestinian impasse,
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas
signed a
number of international treaties and
conventions including the Rome Statute
of
the International Criminal Court
(ICC), paving the way for Palestine to
join
the ICC. Palestine’s membership in
the
ICC is scheduled to take effect on
April 1, 2015 if everything proceeds
according to protocol.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12pt"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12pt">Israel
responded by freezing
$127.6 million in tax revenues it
collects on behalf of the
Palestinians, and
an Israeli official </span><a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.635144"
target="_blank"><span
style="font-size:12pt">reportedly</span></a><span
style="font-size:12pt">
indicated this “is only a first step
in response to the Palestinian moves
at
the United Nations.” In a January 5,
2015 press briefing the US State
Department expressed </span><a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2015/01/235595.htm#MIDDLEEASTPEACE"
target="_blank"><span
style="font-size:12pt">opposition</span></a><span
style="font-size:12pt">
to the freeze in funds, calling it an
action that raised tensions. At the
same time, the State Department
spokesperson called the Palestinian
move to join the ICC
“counterproductive,”
saying, “we’re deeply troubled by the
Palestinian action regarding the ICC.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12pt"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12pt">Current US
legislation does
not require a halt to US aid to the
Palestinians for signing treaties,
including the Rome Treaty, but it
would require a cut off of aid if the
ICC
undertakes an investigation of Israeli
actions at the behest of the
Palestinians or with their support.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12pt"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12pt">Some in
Congress are calling
for immediate punitive measures.
Senator
Rand Paul introduced a </span><a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.paul.senate.gov/?p=sponsored_legislation"
target="_blank"><span
style="font-size:12pt">bill</span></a><span
style="font-size:12pt"> that
would stop US aid to the Palestinian
Authority until the Palestinians
withdraw
their ICC bid, and Congresswoman
Ros-Lehtinen issued a </span><a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://ros-lehtinen.house.gov/press-release/all-us-funds-palestinian-authority-must-be-immediately-suspended-after-pa-signs-rome"
target="_blank"><span
style="font-size:12pt">statement</span></a><span
style="font-size:12pt">
saying in part, “Congress must do
everything in its power to block funds
to the
PA and to any UN entity that
recognizes a non-existent State of
Palestine to
make it clear to Abu Mazen that there
will be consequences to his schemes at
the United Nations and other
international organizations like the
International
Criminal Court.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12pt"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12pt">Rather than
punish the
Palestinians for moves to sign
treaties and conventions, including
those
leading to Palestinian membership in
the ICC, the US should support such
non-violent means of pursuing
justice.
It also should be recognized that in
joining the ICC, the door will be
open to investigations of both Israeli
and Palestinian actions. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
style="font-size:12pt"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
style="font-size:12pt">Call on
Congress and the president to:</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
style="font-size:12pt"> </span></b></p>
<p><span
style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Symbol">·<span
style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;font-family:'Times
New Roman'"> </span></span><b><span
style="font-size:12pt">Refrain from
punishing the Palestinians for
joining international treaties and
conventions
and placing themselves and the
conflict under the scrutiny of
international law</span></b></p>
<p><span
style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Symbol">·<span
style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;font-family:'Times
New Roman'"> </span></span><b><span
style="font-size:12pt">Urge Israel
to release tax revenues belonging to
the Palestinians </span></b></p>
<p><b><span style="font-size:12pt"> </span></b></p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sample letter: </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dear
_________________,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After the defeat of a
UN Security Council resolution that
would have set parameters and a timeline
for addressing the Israeli-Palestinian
impasse, Palestinian president Mahmoud
Abbas signed a number of international
treaties and conventions including the
Rome Statute of the International
Criminal Court (ICC), paving the way for
Palestine to join the ICC. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The government of
Israel responded by freezing $127.6
million in tax revenues belonging to the
Palestinians. I agree with the US
Department of State in
opposing this action by the government
of Israel.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I am also aware that
there is movement in Congress to
consider punishing the Palestinians by
cutting off US aid.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rather than punish
the Palestinians for moves to sign
treaties and conventions, including
those leading to Palestinian membership
in
the ICC, the US should support such
non-violent means of pursuing justice.
It also should be recognized that in
joining
the ICC, the door will be open to
investigations of both Israeli and
Palestinian actions.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I therefore ask you
to:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p><span style="font-family:Symbol">·<span
style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;font-family:'Times
New Roman'">
</span></span>Refrain from punishing
the Palestinians for
joining international treaties and
conventions and placing themselves and
the
conflict under the scrutiny of
international law</p>
<p><span style="font-family:Symbol">·<span
style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;font-family:'Times
New Roman'">
</span></span>Urge Israel to release
tax revenues belonging to
the Palestinians</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you for your
consideration. I look forward to
hearing from you.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With appreciation for
your service,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <br>
</p>
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