Letter to Congressman Price  

To:  Congressman Price   
Fax:  202-225-2014, 919-967-8324
From:  Mary Lou Leiser Smith    
Fax:  919-967-0829

July 27, 2004

 Dear David,

             Please find attached the signatures of citizens who are concerned about the challenges facing Hope Flowers School.

             Regarding the November 2003 demolition order #107-02, we continue to be disturbed that the Israeli Civil Administration has not provided written assurance to Hope Flowers School that the cafeteria building will remain standing.  In fact, the Civil Administration’s responses to the legal proceedings indicate that they are equivocating.  First, the CA required an affidavit stating that the building would be used solely as a cafeteria.  Upon receiving this document, they now state that a building permit must be submitted.  Each step along the way requires additional legal fees (now estimated at $5,000) and architectural-engineering fees (estimated in the tens of thousands).  Incurring such enormous costs must be avoided, as such funds are desperately needed for the educational program instead. 

The cafeteria and the two top floors of the school remain in the same unfinished condition as they were when the construction was halted in 1999.  Since the water supply for the school is stored in the cisterns beneath the cafeteria building, we fear that a demolition will severely affect the future existence of Hope Flowers School. 

 A verbal assurance can be easily ignored.  Please do what you can with the existing diplomatic channels to get a document in writing.  You may recall that in protesting the demolition order B-14/99 in 1999 you and several local Jewish persons received word from the Israeli Consulate that the school would not be harmed.  Yet the current demolition order shows that the previous promises did not hold.  Furthermore, the current order indicates that a warning was given to the school on 6/25/02 to stop construction work.  Hope Flowers never received such a warning, and no construction was taking place at the time.

 Our second request pertains to the urgent need to repair the retaining walls that flank two sides of the playground.  We are requesting that you advocate for funding for this critical need with USAID.  Apparently USAID looks favorably upon the professionalism and integrity of Hope Flowers School.  They have funded a playground shelter and a mini-farm (as a self-supporting project) on the school grounds.  However, the competition for future projects is severe, due to the critical humanitarian needs in the territories.  Rafeed, the Ramallah office that handles USAID projects, told Ibrahim that a recommendation from a government official to USAID would assist their cause.  We would be most grateful if you could pursue this issue.  We will be glad to provide more detailed data upon request.

With appreciation for your efforts over the years on behalf of the children and the staff of Hope Flowers School,

Sincerely

Mary Lou Leiser Smith

cc. Marian Currinder
cc. Ibrahim Issa