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Aref Assaf, "Scott Garrett: The One-eyed congressman"
2/05/2008
Here we go again.
Introduced in January 29, 2008, a congressional
resolution fails the test of fairness and reasonable
deliberation. Cong. Scott Garrett is championing the
cause of Israel by demeaning the suffering of the
Palestinian people and further delegitimizing the role
of the United Nations. We have issued a formal press
release, see below, on the atrocious resolution. Sadly
our own congressman Bill Pascrell said the following in
a statement to the Jewish standard: "H. Res. 951 is
consistent with my position that Israel has the right to
defend its territory and its people," said Rep. Bill
Pascrell (D-8) in a statement to the Standard. "It is
consistent with my stance to hold terrorist
organizations and their state sponsors accountable for
holding up peace in the region. As with all bills
brought before me, I will judiciously examine this
proposal, read every line, and give every consideration
to supporting it."
We hope the congressman
who knows the other side of the story will offer
appropriate language which recognizes Palestinian
suffering and their aspirations. We are ready to help
the congressman make the moral decision.
American Arab Forum
www.aafusa.org
For Immediate Release
AAF Objects to Biased House Resolution on Middle
East Violence
Contact: Aref Assaf 973-960-2673
Paterson, NJ: February 5, 2008:
The American Arab Forum, a
think-tank based in Paterson, NJ views with grave
concern a Congressional resolution condemning
Palestinian militant action against Israel without any
reference to the Israeli occupation and its devastating
and disproportional toll on Palestinian lives and
property. NJ Republican Congressman Scott Garrett (NJ-
5) co-sponsored the resolution with Reps. Eliot Engel
(D-N.Y.), Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas), and Shelley Berkley
(D-Nev.). Its text notes that "terrorists have fired
more than 420 rockets and mortar shells into Israel"
since Jan. 1, and "the near-daily rocket fire has been
targeted primarily and intentionally at civilian
communities in Israel, such as Sderot and Ashkelon,
making life in such areas agonizing…."
Aref Assaf, president of AAF stated that H. R.
Res 951, as it is
officially known, fails to mention the atrocities
inflicted by Israel on the entire Palestinian
population. Whether it is in the form of home
demolitions, extrajudicial killings, confiscation of
lands and properties, or the building of illegal
settlements and barriers which contradicts US vision for
a two-state solution.
Mr. Assaf added that, "such biased resolutions
which fail to address the root cause of violence in the
Middle East, namely the 40 year old Israeli occupation
of Arab lands, will only further derail attempts at
resolving the conflict. Continued one-sided US policy
in the face of collective punishment of millions of
Palestinian and Israel's failure to fulfill UN
resolutions, exposes the hypocrisy of pro Israel
politicians and further impedes efforts to bring justice
and stability to the region. "
We urge the NJ congressional delegation and indeed
all members of Congress to oppose the resolution until
it is reframed to oppose all forms of attacks on
civilian targets. |
