Issues

Lebanon

Support Senator Chafee's Call for a Ceasefire!

Posted on Wednesday August 9, 2006

Hundreds of you responded to our call to action thanking Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) for his recent speech calling for a ceasefire in Lebanon and advocating a responsible US foreign policy. It’s important that other elected officials with the courage to speak out receive support from Arab Americans and those who support peace. Like Hagel, Senator Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), chairman of the Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs subcommittee on Senate Foreign Relations, has been a staunch advocate for peace in the region and increased US engagement. Chafee was the only member of his party to vote against the Iraq war.

Called for a Ceasefire in Lebanon

On July 19, Chafee was one of the first elected officials to call for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon, telling NBC’s David Gregory: “I think there should be a cease-fire, and I disagree with the Administration… I think immediate cease-fire.”

In addition, Chafee was one of six senators who signed a letter of support to Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, pledging to work with “the Lebanese people to recoup the vitality and enterprise which have made Lebanon a center of the Middle East for thousands of years.”

Chafee has been a Consistent Advocate for a Palestinian State

During the recent confirmation hearings of United States Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton, Chafee challenged Bolton on the Administration’s failure to effectively engage in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, asking: “Would you agree with me that many of our allies who you work with daily would say that ‘back to the root cause’ of the problems in the Middle East are associated with our failure to have any progress on this viable, contiguous Palestinian state living side by side in peace with Israel?”

Despite facing a tough reelection battle, Senator Chafee continues to be a brave advocate for a balanced, responsible foreign policy. It is vital that he receive support from Arab Americans and all those who support peace. Below are further excerpts from Senator Chafee.

Call and thank Senator Chafee:

1. As a member of the Arab American Institute, I would like to thank you for your leadership in the Senate and call for an immediate ceasefire;
2. Thank you for supporting an independent, contiguous state of Palestine living side-by-side with Israel in peace and security;
3. Thank you for being an independent voice for peace;
4. Thank you for advocating for a fair and just American foreign policy that projects American values abroad.

If you are not a Rhode Island resident, please call Sen. Chafee’s Washington office at (202) 224-2921 and ask to speak with a staff assistant.

If you live in Rhode Island, call both the Washington office and the district office closest to your home. Ask for the district representative and be sure to let them know where you live. Newport (401) 845-0700, Providence (401) 453-5294

Call us and let us know about your success at (202) 429-9210. If you live in:
California, Iowa, Maryland, or Michigan ask for Valerie Smith at ext. 14 or vsmith@aaiusa.org

Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, or Virginia ask for Maram Abdelhamid at ext. 13 or mabdelhamid@aaiusa.org

Arizona, Florida, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, or any other state, ask for Jason Assir at ext. 28 or jassir@aaiusa.org

Senator Lincoln Chafee and Ambassador John Bolton, July 2006

CHAFEE: When we had the ambassador to Iraq, our ambassador, Ambassador Khalilzad, before the committee, he said that “shaping the Middle East is the defining challenge of our time.”

Do you agree with that?

BOLTON: I think it’s certainly one of the most important challenges of our time. I think, reflecting my own background—we all have a background—the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction remains another challenge.

But it’s, really, the tying in of those two challenges in the Middle East. If you look, particularly, at Iran and the risk that Iran itself poses and the risk that failing to deal with Iran adequately would have as an incentive for other governments to turn to pursuit of weapons of mass destruction that would make that region even more volatile than it is now.

CHAFEE: And does that shape of the Middle East include a viable, contiguous Palestinian state, living side by side in peace with Israel?

BOLTON: Absolutely. I think that is—we’re focused now on the problem of Lebanon, but just before that, there were difficulties in the occupied territories as well.

And that’s precipitated by the role of Hamas, which itself remains a terrorist group that doesn’t recognize the state of Israel.

So that is something that, I think, we hope, the administration hopes that, as part of an effort for resolving the larger issues, we’re certainly not going to lose of sight of it.

It’s very much on Secretary Rice’s mind, as she traveled to the region, met with Abu Mazen, even in her brief trip, and was discussed in Rome as well.

CHAFEE: And you notice I said “contiguous?”

What has the United States done about that vision of a contiguous Palestinian state?

Senator Lincoln Chafee and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, October 2005

Chafee: Now the president is talking about the road map. And he’s saying, in his words, in May, ‘Israel must remove unauthorized outposts and stop settlement expansion.’ Are we going to someday see the same movie, ‘where’s the road map? It must be under here somewhere. It’s under this table. It’s under this chair. ’Or are we really working to do what the president’s saying? And that is: Remove unauthorized outposts and stop settlement expansion?

Rice: Well, interestingly, Senator, we’ve had the only return of territory to the Palestinians in the entire history of the conflict. The Israelis are out of the Gaza.

Chafee: I’m asking about settlement expansion. I’m asking that question.

Rice: Senator, I understand, and I will answer that question. But we can’t lose sight of the historic change that has taken place and that the Palestinians are actually now in control of the Gaza. We’re working with them on issues of international egress and ingress and matters of that kind. But let’s remember that the Israelis took an historic decision to actually leave the territory.

Chafee: While 8,000 settlers moved out of Gaza, while 30,000 moved into the West Bank in opposition to the president’s stated objective; that’s why I’m asking the question.

Rice: Actually, Senator, I don’t think 30,000 have moved into disputed territories…

Chafee: Probably more.