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Citizens for Fair Legislation
For Immediate Release
October 8, 2003
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10/8/03 CFL ALERT: I DEMAND DEDUCTIONS TO ISRAELI LOAN GUARANTEES
On Wednesday, October 8, fax, call, and/or email the Bush Administration, the
State Department, and your Members of Congress and demand that the President
make an immediate deduction in Israel’s loan guarantees for fiscal year 2003,
as required by law. In addition, please write an op-ed or letter to the editor
for your local newspaper urging that the Bush Administration implement
required loan guarantee deductions to Israel.
TALKING POINTS
*The Administration’s decision to delay making deductions in Israel’s loan
guarantees violates the law and must be remedied. Congress made clear that
dollar-for-dollar deductions in the loan guarantees shall be made for the
amount of money that Israel expends in its illegal occupation of Palestinian
territories in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. Presidential
reporting requirements do not allow the Administration to delay making these
deductions; the President was obliged to report to Congress by September 30 on
deductions to be made for fiscal year 2003. This violation of the law must be
remedied immediately and the appropriate deductions must be made
retroactively.
*Israel continues to make substantial expenditures in the Palestinian occupied
territories. Israel spends at least $556 million yearly on non-military
expenditures in its illegal settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip,
according to the Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz. Since 1967, Israel has sunk more
than $10 billion in non-military expenditures into its illegal settlements.
According to Israeli plans, the separation wall that Israel is building
illegally on expropriated West Bank land will stretch 600-650 km (372-404
miles), annexing 98% of the Israeli settlement population and between 45-55%
of the West Bank. At a cost of 10 million shekels/km ($2.25 million/km), the
total estimated cost for the wall is at least $1.5 billion.
*Not making loan guarantee deductions sends the wrong signal to Israel and the
Palestinians. The Administration’s decision to delay making loan guarantee
deductions gives Israel a green light to continue building new settlements and
expanding existing settlements and to continue building a separation wall in
the West Bank. All of these actions are illegal under international law and
are preventing the establishment of a just peace between the two peoples. The
announcement of a delay in loan guarantee deductions is especially ill-timed.
Within a day of the U.S. decision to delay loan guarantee deductions, the
Israeli government decided to extend the wall east of Ariel and Kedumim,
settlements deep in the heart of the West Bank. Despite U.S. objections to the
route of the wall, it appears that the United States is sanctioning this land
grab by not deducting from Israel’s loan guarantees.
*The wall and settlements undermine the chances for a just peace and security.
Israel is free to build border structures within its territory. However, the
wall that Israel is constructing runs deep into the West Bank and is being
built on illegally confiscated Palestinian territory. The wall is creating
tragic humanitarian consequences by cutting off access to precious water
resources and at least 40,000 acres of prime agricultural land in the West
Bank. Entire villages and cities are being completely enclosed or trapped
between the wall and the Green Line and neighbors and even family members are
being cut off from each other. If the wall is completed, analysts estimate
that as much as 55% of the West Bank, including settlements and areas outside
of the wall, would be de facto annexed to Israel and be inaccessible to
Palestinians. Along with the continued expansion of Israel’s illegal
settlements, this would make impossible the formation of a viable and
sovereign Palestinian state. Continued violence demonstrates that no wall can
achieve the security that both Israelis and Palestinians are seeking. Only a
just peace can do so.
PASS THIS AROUND TO ALL YOUR CONTACTS
Please choose the appropriate letter to send! (YOU MUST PICK A SUBJECT FROM
THE DROP DOWN BAR) [After you enter your contact info, the appropriate
addresses are provided. Simply type, or send our prewritten letter and click
send. Be sure to bookmark this page so you can SEND ONE LETTER EVERY DAY. We
have prewritten letters for your convenience.]
EMAIL AND/OR CALL THE WHITE HOUSE
WHITE HOUSE COMMENTS LINE: 202-456-1111
WHITE HOUSE SWITCHBOARD: 202-456-1414
WHITE HOUSE FAX: 202-456-2461
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Citizens for Fair Legislation is a grassroots organization committed to
encouraging a fair domestic and foreign policy with an emphasis on the US/Arab
world.
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