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, let alone condemn, the
atrocities inflicted by Israel on the entire Palestinian
population. Israel's systematic terrorism against the Palestinians
has taken the form of large scale 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.
Press Release was picked yp by the
Bergen Record on
2/17/2008 Read the letter to
"My Dear Constituent",
sent by Congressman Garrett
Read Ron Paul's
opposition letter to the resolution
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