[Peace-discuss] 5, 000-Signature Petition Supports Carter Dialogue with Hamas

[Robert Naiman]

[some signatures at the link are out of order at the bottom even tho they
seem to have the correct city and state info, working to see if we can fix
that. -RN]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, May 9, 2008

Contact: Robert Naiman, Just Foreign Policy, 217-979-2857
            Cecilie Surasky, Jewish Voice for Peace, 510-410-4202

5,000 SIGN PETITION SUPPORTING DIALOGUE WITH HAMAS

WASHINGTON, D.C......Jewish Voice for Peace and Just Foreign Policy have
presented former U.S. President Jimmy Carter with a petition signed by 5,000
of their members supporting his meeting with Hamas leader, Khaled Meshaal.
The petition is being delivered to the three remaining Democratic and
Republican presidential candidates this week.

"In a joint effort, our two organizations have collected signatures to this
petition over the last several weeks. ... Please accept this as an
expression of appreciation for your recent efforts toward creating a lasting
peace between Israelis and Palestinians and as encouragement for you to
continue despite the criticism from many sectors. Peace demands courage,"
the groups said in a letter delivered to President Carter on Thursday.

The text of the petition reads: "I support peace between Israelis and
Palestinians. Jimmy Carter speaks for me when he says that resolution of the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict requires talking to Hamas.  64% of Israelis
have said they support talks with Hamas. Please support including talks with
Hamas in efforts to achieve peace between Israelis and Palestinians."

"I am grateful for the efforts of Jewish Voice for Peace, Just Foreign
Policy and others working for the cause of peace in the Middle East. Public
dialogue and awareness are crucial to achieving the goals of peace with
security for Israel and peace with justice for Palestinians," said President
Carter.

The petition was signed by 5,000 individuals from all 50 states. A copy of
the petition can be found on-line at:
www.justforeignpolicy.org/mideastpetition.pdf.

 #####
Jewish Voice for Peace <http://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/> is one of the
largest Jewish peace organizations in the U.S. with chapters across the
country and an advisory board that includes Pulitzer winner Tony Kushner,
actor Ed Asner, and poet Adrienne Rich as well as other respected rabbis,
artists, scholars and activists. JVP is dedicated to promoting a US foreign
policy in the Middle East based on democracy, human rights and respect for
international law. .

Just Foreign Policy <http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/> is an independent
and non-partisan membership organization founded in 2006. Our Board includes
Julian Bond, chairman of the NAACP; former Congressman Tom Andrews; former
California State Senator Tom Hayden; Robert L. Borosage, co-director of the
Campaign for America's Future; and Jeff Faux, Founding President of the
Economic Policy Institute.
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