My letter to my Senators RE Aid for Palestine

The seal has a shield with 13 stars on top and 13 vertical stripes on the bottom, with a scroll inscribed with "E pluribus unum" floating across the top. An olive branch, symbolizing peace, graces the left side of the shield, while an oak branch, symbolizing strength, is on the right. A red liberty cap above the shield and crossed fasces below the shield represent freedom and authority, respectively. Blue beams of light emanate from the shield. Surrounding the seal is the legend "United States Senate". Several of the elements are derived from the Great Seal of the United States.

My letter to my Senators RE Aid for Palestine

Dear Toomey (etc)

I think Islamists have been doing huge harm to the people of the Middle East. But I don't think cutting funds from Palestine is the right approach to convincing people there to back away from HAMAS, religious extremism and scorn for negotiations to actually end the Israel-Palestine conflict.

S. Res. 185 (which passed unanimously in the Senate on June 28, 2011) might have had good intentions, but I think it was a very bad idea sending a very counterproductive message as it totally ignores Israel's ongoing violations of international law and the Palestinians' basic human rights. 

Palestine's bid for statehood is based on endorsing and empowering nonviolence and diplomacy.... and a two state solution to once and for all end the Israel-Palestine conflict. 

Israel's continued investments in housing for Jews is creating bigotry and injustice all through out the Holy Land.  Religion should be a personal private choice, not a state funded mandate that grants some people freedom, jobs, housing, and respect while impoverishing, displacing, demonizing and disenfranchising indigenous "others" who have been deemed the "wrong religion".

A fully secular two state solution to end the Israel-Palestine conflict is a worthy goal and the best way forward for everyone's sake--> so please focus in on empowering secular freedom and justice, full respect for international law, basic human rights and real democracy for all, regardless of supposed race or religion.

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab

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December 4, 2012

Dear Mrs. Annab,

Thank you for contacting me about the creation of a Palestinian state. I appreciate hearing from you.

As a strong supporter of Israel, I understand and value your input on the establishment of a Palestinian state. While open to the creation of a free, independent Palestinian state that peacefully coexists with Israel, I strongly oppose the Palestinian Authority's effort to achieve statehood unilaterally through a vote at the United Nations. A Palestinian state should only be created through negotiations between the Palestinian Authority and Israel.  To the extent necessary, the U.S. should also play a strong role in those negotiations. It is for these reasons that I cosponsored S. Res. 185, which passed unanimously in the Senate on June 28, 2011. As you may know, S. Res. 185 calls on the Obama administration to lead opposition to unilateral Palestinian statehood efforts and threatens a major change in U.S. relations with the Palestinian Authority if it includes an unreformed Hamas, including a suspension of aid.

Thank you again for your correspondence. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future if I can be of assistance.

Sincerely,
 

Pat Toomey
U.S. Senator, Pennsylvania

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d112:s.res.185:
S.RES.185
Latest Title: A resolution reaffirming the commitment of the United States to a negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, reaffirming opposition to the inclusion of Hamas in a unity government unless it is willing to accept peace with Israel and renounce violence, and declaring that Palestinian efforts to gain recognition of a state outside direct negotiations demonstrates absence of a good faith commitment to peace negotiations, and will have implications for continued United States aid.
Sponsor: Sen Cardin, Benjamin L. [MD] (introduced 5/16/2011)      Cosponsors (90)
Related Bills: H.RES.268
Latest Major Action: 6/28/2011 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.RES.185 -- Whereas the policy of the United States since 2002 has been to support a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict; (Agreed to Senate - ATS)
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c112:2:./temp/~c112joZphY::