Issues

Palestine

Dear Colleague Letter from Congressman's Michael McCaul and Joe Crowley

Posted on Thursday June 8, 2006

Dear Colleague:

It’s time for Congress, the President and the international community to address the systematic destruction of the oldest Christian community in the world. Since the Palestinian Authority gained control over the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, the political, social and economic status of the Christian community has declined precipitously. This has led to mass migration of Palestinian Christians out of territories under Palestinian Authority control. In addition, Christian holy sites and cemeteries have suffered repeated desecration with little response from the police.

Until now, the human rights record of the Palestinian Authority has been ignored in order to advance the Middle East peace process. However, a Palestinian government that does not respect the rights of minorities under its rule will neither be a partner for peace nor a beacon of democracy for the rest of the region. Equal rights under the law for all people must be a pre-requisite for any Palestinian government that receives support from the United States.

If we do not act now Christians around the world risk losing control of and access to the most ancient and holy sites in Christendom. Please join us in cosponsoring this resolution and working to save the Palestinian Christian community from devastation.

If you have any questions or would like to become a cosponsor of this important resolution, please contact Ari Stein in Congressman Michael McCaul’s office at (202) 225 – 2401 or Gregg Sheiowitz in Congressman Joe Crowley’s office at (202) 225 – 3965.

Sincerely

/s /s

___________________ ___________________
Michael T. McCaul, Joe Crowley
Member of Congress Member of Congress