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Sign statement to Sam Farr on Gaza Crisis
We are seeking signatures for the following petition to Sam Farr. Go to: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/farr/
Or email direct to Sam Farr: samfarr [at] mail.house.gov
Or print and mail to Sam Farr: 701 Ocean Street, #318, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. Copies of the petition will be sent on Monday January 5 and each day thereafter.
Or email direct to Sam Farr: samfarr [at] mail.house.gov
Or print and mail to Sam Farr: 701 Ocean Street, #318, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. Copies of the petition will be sent on Monday January 5 and each day thereafter.
Dear Congressmember Farr (D-CA, 17th District):
We expect that soon after Congress reconvenes this month, one or more resolutions will be offered that essentially endorses Israel’s recent attacks on the Gaza Strip and places blame for continued violence wholly with the Hamas Government of Gaza.
Residents and voters from your district, including those of us who have actively supported your election many times, have repeatedly demonstrated our support for a political resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that honors both peoples’ rights and aspirations. You have often stated this same position. We write to implore you, please do not lend your name or suggest that the 17th District supports any resolution that attempts to justify Israel’s continuing attack on Gaza. Such resolutions are detrimental to the cause of a sustainable, negotiated end to violence in the region.
Specifically, we urgently request that you not lend your name in support of or vote for any Congressional resolution that:
· fails to recognize the responsibility of both sides for the failure of the cease fire and the ongoing tragedy
· contains any language contradicting findings by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories/B’Tselem and other reputable human rights groups which recognize that both the Israeli armed forces and Hamas and Palestinian armed groups have been engaging in violations of international humanitarian law.
· fails to acknowledge the illegality and the humanitarian consequences of the Israeli siege of Gaza – heightened in November 2008 – and how the siege contributed to the breakdown of the cease fire
We urge you to act immediately to garner Congressional support for a comprehensive ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the protection of civilians on all sides, and addressing the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza by lifting of the blockade of Gaza by land, air and sea. Only through US leadership and forceful international action and oversight can the bloodshed be stopped, and real progress made toward a wider peace in 2009.
We recognize that the indiscriminate Palestinian attacks on civilians by firing rockets and missiles from Gaza into Israel are a clear violation of international humanitarian law. We also believe it is important to recognize that the Israeli government is engaging in ongoing violations of international humanitarian law as well through its bombardment of densely-populated civilian areas of the Gaza Strip, its policy of assassination and detention of Palestinian leaders, and its continued illegal expropriation of Palestinian land.
It is critical that Congress recognize how the U.S. government in recent years has failed to support a concerted movement towards a negotiated settlement. We call on you and your Congressional colleagues to acknowledge how the stalled peace process has demoralized advocates for a negotiated settlement and has fueled extremism among both Palestinians and Israelis.
In addition, we encourage you to call for hearings regarding the apparent violation of U.S. arms exports regulations by the Israeli government in their use of U.S.-provided weapons against civilian targets and to call for an immediate suspension of U.S. military assistance to Israel until it comes into compliance with U.S. law. We also encourage you to call for hearings investigating the veracity of reports that the United States has provided military assistance for the Israeli attacks on Gaza by giving extended intelligence and logistical support to the Israeli air force in its savage raids on the Gaza Strip
We agree with those who have observed that failure to achieve a diplomatic solution leads to greater suffering of Palestinians and Israelis, heightens risk of a broader confrontation, and makes the achievement of a two-state solution increasingly impractical. Avoidance or delay of a political solution only strengthens extremism by all parties to the conflict.
Signed by
Sami Abed
firehockey [at] cruzio.com
Darrell W. Darling
ddarling [at] darlinghouse.com
Megan Kennedy
megankennedy25 [at] gmail.com
Scott Kennedy
kenncruz [at] pacbell.net
David Sweet
dgsweet [at] cruzio.com
Stephen Zunes
zunes [at] usfca.edu
We look forward to your response that can be sent c/o Scott Kennedy, the Resource Center for Nonviolence, 515 Broadway, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (831) 423-8716 or kenncruz [at] pacbell.net.
We expect that soon after Congress reconvenes this month, one or more resolutions will be offered that essentially endorses Israel’s recent attacks on the Gaza Strip and places blame for continued violence wholly with the Hamas Government of Gaza.
Residents and voters from your district, including those of us who have actively supported your election many times, have repeatedly demonstrated our support for a political resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that honors both peoples’ rights and aspirations. You have often stated this same position. We write to implore you, please do not lend your name or suggest that the 17th District supports any resolution that attempts to justify Israel’s continuing attack on Gaza. Such resolutions are detrimental to the cause of a sustainable, negotiated end to violence in the region.
Specifically, we urgently request that you not lend your name in support of or vote for any Congressional resolution that:
· fails to recognize the responsibility of both sides for the failure of the cease fire and the ongoing tragedy
· contains any language contradicting findings by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories/B’Tselem and other reputable human rights groups which recognize that both the Israeli armed forces and Hamas and Palestinian armed groups have been engaging in violations of international humanitarian law.
· fails to acknowledge the illegality and the humanitarian consequences of the Israeli siege of Gaza – heightened in November 2008 – and how the siege contributed to the breakdown of the cease fire
We urge you to act immediately to garner Congressional support for a comprehensive ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the protection of civilians on all sides, and addressing the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza by lifting of the blockade of Gaza by land, air and sea. Only through US leadership and forceful international action and oversight can the bloodshed be stopped, and real progress made toward a wider peace in 2009.
We recognize that the indiscriminate Palestinian attacks on civilians by firing rockets and missiles from Gaza into Israel are a clear violation of international humanitarian law. We also believe it is important to recognize that the Israeli government is engaging in ongoing violations of international humanitarian law as well through its bombardment of densely-populated civilian areas of the Gaza Strip, its policy of assassination and detention of Palestinian leaders, and its continued illegal expropriation of Palestinian land.
It is critical that Congress recognize how the U.S. government in recent years has failed to support a concerted movement towards a negotiated settlement. We call on you and your Congressional colleagues to acknowledge how the stalled peace process has demoralized advocates for a negotiated settlement and has fueled extremism among both Palestinians and Israelis.
In addition, we encourage you to call for hearings regarding the apparent violation of U.S. arms exports regulations by the Israeli government in their use of U.S.-provided weapons against civilian targets and to call for an immediate suspension of U.S. military assistance to Israel until it comes into compliance with U.S. law. We also encourage you to call for hearings investigating the veracity of reports that the United States has provided military assistance for the Israeli attacks on Gaza by giving extended intelligence and logistical support to the Israeli air force in its savage raids on the Gaza Strip
We agree with those who have observed that failure to achieve a diplomatic solution leads to greater suffering of Palestinians and Israelis, heightens risk of a broader confrontation, and makes the achievement of a two-state solution increasingly impractical. Avoidance or delay of a political solution only strengthens extremism by all parties to the conflict.
Signed by
Sami Abed
firehockey [at] cruzio.com
Darrell W. Darling
ddarling [at] darlinghouse.com
Megan Kennedy
megankennedy25 [at] gmail.com
Scott Kennedy
kenncruz [at] pacbell.net
David Sweet
dgsweet [at] cruzio.com
Stephen Zunes
zunes [at] usfca.edu
We look forward to your response that can be sent c/o Scott Kennedy, the Resource Center for Nonviolence, 515 Broadway, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (831) 423-8716 or kenncruz [at] pacbell.net.
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Please consider signing on to the letter put together by Scott Kennedy and other local human rights activists, pasted below, and passing it on to other residents of the 17th Congressional District who may be inclined to sign on to it as well.
Amnesty International, in a letter to Condoleeza Rice released yesterday, noted its dismay "at the lopsided response by the U.S. government to the recent violence and its lackadaisical efforts to ameliorate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Without diminishing the responsibility of Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups for indiscriminate and deliberate attacks on Israeli civilians, the U.S. government must not ignore Israel's disproportionate response and the longstanding policies which have brought the Gaza Strip to the brink of humanitarian disaster." http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2009/01/02
Despite this, virtually the entire Democratic Congressional leadership -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Senate Majority leader Harry Reid (D-NV), House Majority leader Steny Hoyer D-MD), amd House Foreign Relations Committee chair Howard Berman (D-CA)-- have sided with the Bush administration against Amnesty International, unconditionally supporting the Israeli assault and placing 100% of the blame on the Palestinian side.
During previous Israeli bombardments and military incursions against heavily-populated civilian areas in Gaza Strip and Lebanon in recent years, our Congressman, Sam Farr, has also sided with the Bush administration in backing the attacks, voting in favor of resolutions supporting the Bush administration and the Israeli government in language which directly contradicted findings by Amnesty and other human rights groups.
It appears likely there will soon be another Congressional resolution supporting Israel's bombardment and recently-launched invasion of the Gaza Strip and Farr will again have to choose between siding with the human rights community or once again siding with the Bush administration. Polls show an overwhelming majority of registered Democrats nationwide oppose Israel's assaults on the Gaza Strip and presumably an even higher proprotion in this district feel the same way, raising the question as to whether Farr will be willing to side with the majority of his constituents or once again ally with a right-wing minority.
Overall, Farr has had one of the better records in the U.S. House of Representatives regarding human rights, so with enough signatures in support of this letter, there is a good chance he may actually do the right thing this time.
Thank you!
In peace,
Stephen Zunes
Santa Cruz, CA
Amnesty International, in a letter to Condoleeza Rice released yesterday, noted its dismay "at the lopsided response by the U.S. government to the recent violence and its lackadaisical efforts to ameliorate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Without diminishing the responsibility of Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups for indiscriminate and deliberate attacks on Israeli civilians, the U.S. government must not ignore Israel's disproportionate response and the longstanding policies which have brought the Gaza Strip to the brink of humanitarian disaster." http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2009/01/02
Despite this, virtually the entire Democratic Congressional leadership -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Senate Majority leader Harry Reid (D-NV), House Majority leader Steny Hoyer D-MD), amd House Foreign Relations Committee chair Howard Berman (D-CA)-- have sided with the Bush administration against Amnesty International, unconditionally supporting the Israeli assault and placing 100% of the blame on the Palestinian side.
During previous Israeli bombardments and military incursions against heavily-populated civilian areas in Gaza Strip and Lebanon in recent years, our Congressman, Sam Farr, has also sided with the Bush administration in backing the attacks, voting in favor of resolutions supporting the Bush administration and the Israeli government in language which directly contradicted findings by Amnesty and other human rights groups.
It appears likely there will soon be another Congressional resolution supporting Israel's bombardment and recently-launched invasion of the Gaza Strip and Farr will again have to choose between siding with the human rights community or once again siding with the Bush administration. Polls show an overwhelming majority of registered Democrats nationwide oppose Israel's assaults on the Gaza Strip and presumably an even higher proprotion in this district feel the same way, raising the question as to whether Farr will be willing to side with the majority of his constituents or once again ally with a right-wing minority.
Overall, Farr has had one of the better records in the U.S. House of Representatives regarding human rights, so with enough signatures in support of this letter, there is a good chance he may actually do the right thing this time.
Thank you!
In peace,
Stephen Zunes
Santa Cruz, CA
For more information:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/farr/
I'm glad to see that this statement emphasizes the faults of both sides. Showing balance makes a much more credible argument and gives Sam a reasonable position to represent the district.
In a resolution backing Israel's war crimes, Sam Farr voted present.
Dennis Kucinich, Maxine Waters, and Ron Paul all voted against.
Rabbi Rick Litvak of Temple Beth El in Aptos, a rabid Zionist, called Sam Farr's vote disappointing, but praised his past votes.
Here is an article that talks about the same bill when it was passed in the Senate a day earlier:
Senate Democrats endorse Israeli war crimes
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/jan2009/lead-j09.shtml
Stephen Zunes wrote, "Overall, Farr has had one of the better records in the U.S. House of Representatives regarding human rights"
The same Sam Farr who keeps voting to send weapons to the death squad government of Colombia? It's this kind of left cover for Democrats, the other U.S. ruling party of war and imperialism, that keeps discrediting Zunes.
By voting "present" against Israeli war crimes?
More like a half-ass political move in attempt to give cover for his bad voting record for murderous apartheid Israel.
Unlike Sam Farr, here's a woman taking a stand:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQyIKyd2gqA
More like a half-ass political move in attempt to give cover for his bad voting record for murderous apartheid Israel.
Unlike Sam Farr, here's a woman taking a stand:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQyIKyd2gqA
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