June 25, 2003, to N&O from Burhan Ghanayem

The Honorable David Price

United States House of Representatives

 Dear David:

 It learned this morning that the House will consider today under "suspension" House Resolution 294, introduced by Rep. Tom Lantos "condemning the terrorism inflicted on Israel since the Aqaba summit, [and] expressing solidarity with the Israeli people." Although I too condemn acts of terrorism, I strongly urge you to oppose and vote against this resolution.

 As written, this resolution is shamefully biased and one-sided because it fails to mention violence directed against the Palestinians by Israel's military occupation. Since the Aqaba summit, 55 Palestinians have been killed and 258 have been injured in acts related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The resolution claims falsely that "Palestinians are also victims of these [Palestinian] terrorists," rather than victims of Israel's military occupation.

Moreover, this resolution fails to mention Israel's 36 year-old military occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem, which is the primary cause of conflict. In addition, it appears to justify Israel's policy of extra-judicial killings (a policy that contravenes American principles and international law by denying the accused the right to a fair trial) with the killing of innocent by standers in the process, home demolitions, and land theft and construction of “Jewish only” settlements.

 I look forward to see you taking a leadership position against this shameful resolution and to vote against it.  This resolution will not serve the cause of peace and will only promote more Israeli aggression against the occupied Palestinian people.

 Sincerely,

 Burhan Ghanayem