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Iowa

Making an Impact in Iowa

AAI Bulletin
Posted on Wednesday March 15, 2006

In Iowa, AAI National Policy Council Member, Newman Abuissa, Chair of the International Affairs subcommittee of the Johnson County Democrats’ Platform Committee, succeeded in seeing resolutions on Iraq and Israel/Palestine passed at the county convention. The following are excerpts from the resolutions:

On Iraq: “We support the withdrawal of the American forces from Iraq as rapidly as possible with incremental transfer of policing and security to Iraqi authority, collaborative international rebuilding of Iraq under Iraqi authority, and treatment of all captured and surrendering combatants as prisoners of war under Geneva Accords protections.

On the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: “We support a two-state solution based on international law and all relevant UN resolutions to achieve a just and comprehensive solution in a specific timeframe, and the right of return of Palestinians which should be determined by negotiations without the use of force or expulsion. We oppose all forms of violence, especially terrorism directed at civilian populations of both sides; any statements or actions by the US administration or Congress which prejudice the final status of Jerusalem without final negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians; the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian land in 1967 and the Israeli settlements on the Palestinian lands which we believe are the roots of the conflict and a great deterrent to meaningful negotiations; and providing arms to Israel without making a determination of Israel’s compliance with the Arms Export Control Act to avoid all repressive military measures against Palestinian civilians.

These two resolutions were based on a variety of similar resolutions passed at a number of precinct caucuses, of which some were based on AAI position statements. As Chair of the International Affairs subcommittee, Newman was in a position to draft the specific language to be introduced at the county level. He reports that there was discussion of these items during platform committee meetings, but they were not challenged at the county convention itself.

Newman has also been elected a delegate to the district and state conventions, so he will have the opportunity to speak in favor of these resolutions if they are challenged.

Please share your political involvement with us. Please contact Valerie Smith at vsmith@aaiusa.org.