[Peace-discuss] Send letters like this

[C. G. Estabrook]

[Here's a sample letter to a Congressional representative.  Our representatives 
and their addresses are appended.  --CGE]

Douglas P. Tarnopol
[Douglas' address]

The Hon. Jim Langevin
109 Cannon House Office Building
Washington D.C. 20515

Dear Representative Langevin:

I am a 39-year-old American Jew. My mother was raised in a displaced persons
camp in Berlin after World War II; most of her extended family died in Nazi
death camps.

The lesson of that event is often reduced to two words: "Never again." I agree,
with a slight, but all important addendum: "Never again -- to anyone, regardless
of the perpetrators." Right now, in Gaza more obviously but also in the West
Bank, Israel is moving toward its "final phase," and not just of this latest
Gaza "operation." No, this rampage in Gaza is only the latest acute eruption of
Israel's chronic disease, the military occupation -- and ongoing annexation --
of Palestine.

The final solution to the "demographic problem" in Israel -- perhaps including
the involuntary "transfer" of all Israeli Arabs out of Israel, as right-wingers
in Israel are demanding -- is being funded by American taxpayer money, executed
with American military hardware, and protected by American diplomatic and
ideological support. Recently, Israel has banned all Arab parties from
participation in the upcoming elections. I see no reason to continue to use
scarce tax dollars to prop up a racist, apartheid state.

If the facts of the situation in the occupied territories are lost on you,
believe me, they are not lost on the victims. Only perpetrators have the option
of forgetting or covering up their crimes. Victims have no such option.

In the name of humanity, this must end. The United States should demand an
immediate cease-fire in Gaza -- without any adjectival dodges (such as, "durable").

Two further steps will help not only Gazans and the rest of Palestine's hapless,
imprisoned population, but also the United States, and Israel as well:

	1. Israeli war criminals should be brought before the International Criminal
Court or a Special Tribunal for war crimes committed in Gaza. The investigation,
prosecution or extradition of those responsible for war crimes is an obligation
of all high contracting parties to the Geneva Conventions, as you no doubt know.

	2. In response to Israel's severe breaches of international humanitarian law 
and international human rights law, the United States should--

	(a) terminate all favorable trade agreements and economic relations with
Israel; and

	(b) cut all diplomatic ties with Israel and stop the disbursement of any and 
all military aid to Israel

-- unless and until it commits to end the occupation and negotiate -- with
whomever the Palestinians choose to represent them -- a two-state solution on
the June 1967 borders, in accordance with the international consensus.

The entire world knows full well that the United States has enabled Israel's
territorial expansion ever since it decided that doing so would be useful for
its own geopolitical purposes. The above is the least we can do to show the
world that after decades of crimes in the Middle East -- both our own and those
of Israel that we have enabled -- we are indeed turning a new page.

Sincerely yours,

Douglas P. Tarnopol

===================

Representative Timothy Johnson
1207 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Senator Roland Burris
523 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510

Senator Richard Durbin
309 Hart Senate Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510