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SPECIAL: APN Talking Points Sent to Capitol Hill on Supporting Aid for Middle East Peace

All Members of the House of Representatives received these APN Talking Points on the eve of the March 15th consideration of the President's aid package

Israelis & Palestinians have said goodbye to the Arafat era - Congress should do so as well.

On March 15th, the House is scheduled to begin floor consideration of President Bush's supplemental budget request. Americans for Peace Now (APN), the premier voice of American Jews who support Israel and the quest for security and peace, calls on Members of Congress to support the $200 million included in the President's supplemental budget request to bolster Israeli-Palestinian peace.

U.S.-Palestinian relations have entered a new era. For the sake of Israelis and Palestinians, and all those who yearn for peace, now is the time for Congress to support the historic changes that are taking place. We urge Congress to join President Bush, Prime Minister Sharon, and the Palestinian people in giving the new Palestinian Authority (PA) the opportunity - and the help it needs - to succeed.

The new PA, led by democratically-elected President Mahmoud Abbas, is committed to reform; has declared an end to the Intifada, brokered a ceasefire, and begun to fight terror and incitement; and is working with Israel on all fronts. Financial reform, led by Minister of Finance Salaam Fayyad, has produced unprecedented accountability and transparency. Continued action is needed, but it is clear that the PA is headed in the right direction.

Congress, rightfully, demands accountability when providing funds to any foreign entity or government, including the PA. It is incumbent on the PA to ensure that old ways of doing business, including corruption and cronyism, are not tolerated; at the same time, the PA must embrace transparency and accountability measures that reassure the Palestinian people and international donors that funds are being handled appropriately.

Regrettably, the House Appropriations Committee included conditions and limitations on the $200 million aid package that have nothing to do with accountability or transparency, but instead tie the President's hands when it comes to using this aid. These include removing the President's ability to waive restrictions on the use of the aid if he deems it to be in the national security interests of the United States to do so.

Paradoxically, the conditions and limitations the Committee placed on this aid package are more far-reaching and intrusive than any Congress placed on such aid when Arafat was running the show.

APN urges Members of Congress to:

·support the $200 million included in the supplemental to support Israeli-Palestinian peace. Israelis and Palestinians have said goodbye to the Arafat era; Congress should do so as well.

·support the speedy provision of aid already appropriated for the Palestinians, but not yet spent (i.e., in the pipeline). Effective use of this aid can help President Abbas as he undertakes difficult reforms, including fighting terror, and it can strengthen moderate, pro-peace Palestinian parties and candidates running in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

·express unhappiness with the excessive conditions placed by the Appropriations Committee on the aid, including the removal of the President's national security waiver.

These moves undermine efforts to build Palestinian democracy and bolster moderate, pro-peace Palestinian leaders. As such, they undermine Israeli security and U.S. interests.

For more information, please contact APN Government Relations Director Lara Friedman at LFapn@earthlink.net or 202/728-1893.