ACTION ALERT 52 Reps. Sign Price-Lahood Letter to Bush on Israeli-Palestinian Peace Efforts‏

From:

Churches for Middle East Peace (info@cmep.org)

52 Reps. Sign Price-Lahood Letter to Bush on Israeli-Palestinian Peace Efforts This email is also available online at: www.cmep.org/Alerts/2008May15.htm May 15, 2008 Julie Schumacher Cohen, Legislative Coordinator The Price-Lahood letter to President Bush, urging him to re-energize the Annapolis peace process, beginning with efforts to end the crisis in southern Israel and Gaza, was sent off yesterday with a total of 52 signers! The letter, led by Congressman David Price (D-NC) and Ray Lahood (R-IL), encourages solutions to end the violence and alleviate the humanitarian situation, including a cease-fire and an end to the border blockade. The full text of the letter can be viewed here and the final list of signers is included below. Your advocacy calls make a difference! CMEP's outreach efforts helped mobilize significant Congressional support for a new way forward to stabilize the Gaza situation and enable progress toward a peace agreement. The Representatives sent their letter as President Bush began his visit to the Middle East for several days of events, talks and meetings and amid a new outbreak of violence. The letter demonstrates bi-partisan backing of the Annapolis process, as well as concern that if action is not taken soon to end the crisis in southern Israel and Gaza, the deteriorating situation will continue to hamper peacemaking efforts. TAKE ACTION Thank your Representative: If your Representative signed the Price-Lahood letter, please take a moment now to thank them for their leadership. Contact Info: Email your Representative Sample Message: Thank you for signing the bi-partisan Price-Lahood letter to President Bush on Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts. Your support for solutions to help end the crisis in southern Israel and Gaza and maintain forward momentum on the Annapolis peace process is an important message at a critical time. As an American Christian, I too am deeply concerned about peace in the Holy Land and hope the President will make the most of his current Mideast trip. A May 9th letter to the President from the Board of Churches for Middle East Peace also encourages efforts to improve daily life for Israelis and Palestinians and help build the necessary public support for reaching an agreement this year. Thank you again for your leadership and for your support of U.S. engagement to achieve a two-state resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. View the full text of the letter here.

Final List of Signers: 1. Baird (D-WA) 2. Baldwin (D-WI) 3. Blumenauer (D-OR) 4. Boswell (D-IA) 5. Bordallo (D-Guam) 6. Boustany (R-LA) 7. Buyer (R-IN) 8. Capps (D-CA) 9. Capuano (D-MA) 10. Carney (D-PA) 11. Coble (R-NC) 12. Conyers (D-MI) 13. Davis, Susan (D-CA) 14. DeFazio (D-OR) 15. Doggett (D-TX) 16. Doyle (D-PA) 17. Ellison (D-MN) 18. Faleomavaega (D-AS) 19. Farr (D-CA) 20. Fattah (D-PA) 21. Gilchrest (R-MD) 22. Gonzales (D-TX) 23. Hinchey (D-NY) 24. Holt (D-NJ) 25. Issa (R-CA) 26. Jones (D-OH) 27. Kaptur (D-OH) 28. Kucinich (D-OH) 29. LaHood (R-IL) 30. Lee (D-CA) 31. Lynch (D-MA) 32. Markey (D-MA) 33. McCollum (D-MN) 34. McDermott (D-WA) 35. McGovern (D-MA) 36. Michaud (D-ME) 37. Miller, Brad (D-NC) 38. Moore, Gwen (D-WI) 39. Moran, Jim (D-VA) 40. Oberstar (D-MN) 41. Olver (D-MA) 42. Payne (D-NJ) 43. Price (D-NC) 44. Rahall (D-WV) 45. Rangel (D-NY) 46. Rodriguez (D-TX) 47. Smith (D-WA) 48. Stark (D-CA) 49. Tierney (D-MA) 50. Wamp (R-TN) 51. Watt (D-NC) 52. Welch (D-VT)

Formed in 1984, Churches for Middle East Peace is a Washington-based program of the Alliance of Baptists, American Friends Service Committee, Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Armenian Orthodox Church, Catholic Conference of Major Superiors of Men's Institutes, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Church of the Brethren, Church World Service, Episcopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Franciscan Friars OFM (English Speaking Conference, JPIC Council), Friends Committee on National Legislation, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Maryknoll Missioners, Mennonite Central Committee, Moravian Church in America, National Council of Churches, Presbyterian Church (USA), Reformed Church in America, Unitarian Universalist Association, United Church of Christ, and the United Methodist Church (GBCS & GBGM). Contributions to CMEP are tax deductible and can be made by check or online by secure, on-line credit card service. Churches for Middle East Peace Email: info@cmep.org Phone: 202-543-1222 Web: http://www.cmep.org