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APN Legislative Round-Up - May 9, 2008

I. New Pro-Peace Dear Colleague; II. FY09 Supplemental Budget Request; III. Tributes to Israel at 60; IV. Ackerman on Middle East Funding

...for the week ending May 9, 2008

I.  New Pro-Peace Dear Colleague
II.  FY09 Supplemental Budget Request
III. Tributes to Israel at 60
IV. Ackerman on Middle East Funding
 

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I. NEW PRO-PEACE DEAR COLLEAGUE
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On 5/7/08 Reps. Price (D-NC) and LaHood (R-IL) began circulating a Dear Colleague seeking cosigners on a letter to President Bush regarding his efforts to promote Israeli-Palestinian peace. As of this writing (11am, 5/9/08), the following members have signed on to the letter: Price (D-NC), LaHood (R-IL), Davis (D-CA), Oberstar (D-MN, Capps (D-CA), Moran (D-VA), Moran (R-KS), Blumenauer (D-OR), Capuano (D-MA), Wamp (RTN), McGovern (D-MA), Fattah (D-PA), Hinchey (D-NY), Ellison (D-MN), DeFazio (D-OR), Jones (D-OH), Boswell (D-IA), Farr (D-CA), and Doggett (D-TX).

APN strongly supports this letter. Our message to all House offices, along with the full text of the Price-LaHood letter, is included below:

Dear House staff member:

I wanted to make sure that you and your boss were aware of a new bipartisan, pro-Middle East peace letter to President Bush that is currently being circulated in the House, signed by Representatives David Price (D-NC), and Ray LaHood (R-IL).

This timely, constructive letter calls on President Bush, as he travels to the region to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Israel and hold talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, to work to create an atmosphere conducive to peace by focusing on ending the crisis in southern Israel and Gaza. As the Dear Colleague accompanying the letter notes, while the President's visit is an important opportunity to advance the peace process, "serious progress will only be possible if a solution is found to stabilize the Gaza situation and preserve the achievements made in negotiations."

APN strongly supports this letter and its very important message. We agree that "the status quo, with its constant threat of a new eruption of terror and violence, can too easily derail progress toward achieving an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement in 2008" and that "for the peace process to be viable, solutions must be found to stabilize the Gaza situation, preserve the achievements made in peace talks, and maintain forward momentum. Without such solutions, popular support for the peace process among both Israelis and Palestinians will suffer, and moderate Palestinian leadership in the West Bank, led by President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, will be threatened."

We strongly agree that solutions to the crisis in southern Israel and Gaza must include: unequivocal international condemnation of Palestinian rocket attacks, including from Arab states; ending the Gaza blockade in a secure and timely manner and, simultaneously, working to address the security challenges associated with the Gaza-Egypt border; and seriously exploring the potential for a ceasefire, mediated most likely by third parties or even by President Abbas.

I hope you will take a look at the letter (copied below) and bring it to the attention of your boss.

APN urges all Members who care about Israel to add their names to this very important and timely message.

The letter is being strongly supported by a range of organizations, including not only Americans for Peace Now, but also Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, the Arab American Institute, Churches for Middle East Peace, J Street, and the Israel Policy Forum.

To sign on to this letter, please contact Tommy Ross in the office of Representative Price (tommy.ross@mail.house.gov) or Sarah Osborn in the office of Representative LaHood (sarah.osborn@mail.house.gov). Please note that the deadline to sign on to the letter is close of business on Monday, May 12, 2008.

If you have any questions about this letter, or about anything else related to Israel and the quest for peace and security in the Middle East, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Lara Friedman Director of Policy and Government Relations Americans for Peace Now tel: 202.728.1893 lfriedman@peacenow.org

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May xx, 2008

Dear Mr. President:

We write to express our deep concern over the ongoing crisis in southern Israel and Gaza. We fear that the status quo, with its constant threat of a new eruption of terror and violence, can too easily derail progress toward achieving an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement in 2008.

So far this year, nearly one thousand rockets have been fired by Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups from the Gaza Strip into Israel -- intentionally aimed at residential communities in southern Israel such as Sderot, and reaching as far as the city of Ashkelon. We strongly condemn these attacks and support Israel's right to self defense.

We recognize, too, that many Palestinian civilians and children have been killed and wounded in Israel's military operations in Gaza targeted at Hamas and other militant groups. In addition, the blockade of Gaza imposed by Israel in order to put pressure on Hamas is exacerbating an already grave humanitarian situation. In this climate, popular support for Hamas remains strong while the credibility of the current Israeli-Palestinian peace talks is weakened.

We are concerned that unless something changes, progress toward an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement will continually be hampered by the violence in southern Israel and Gaza. We believe that for the peace process to be viable, solutions must be found to stabilize the Gaza situation, preserve the achievements made in peace talks, and maintain forward momentum. Without such solutions, popular support for the peace process among both Israelis and Palestinians will suffer, and moderate Palestinian leadership in the West Bank, led by President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, will be threatened.

Without doubt, any solution to the crisis in southern Israel and Gaza must include unequivocal international condemnation of the rocket attacks, including from Arab states. We support and encourage your efforts to reach such an international consensus through the appropriate forums.

Furthermore, any solution must end the Gaza blockade in a secure and timely manner, including the possible re-opening of the Egypt-Gaza border crossing under Palestinian Authority control. Any solution will need to address the smuggling of weapons and materials into Gaza. We urge you to work actively with Egypt, Israel, and, where appropriate, the international community, to find solutions to this border challenge that address Israel's security needs, provide relief to the people of Gaza, and create a climate more conducive to a successful peace process.

Finally, we believe that any solution to the current situation should include exploration of a potential ceasefire, mediated most likely by third parties or even by President Abbas. Recent polling data suggests strong support for such measures among Israelis. In fact, a poll conducted by Tel Aviv University and the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz in February 2008 found that 64% of Israelis support efforts to achieve an Israel-Hamas ceasefire.

We are not arguing for direct engagement with Hamas by Israel or the U.S. Hamas is a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization sworn to Israel's destruction. Moreover, such engagement could undermine Palestinian moderates. We also recognize the difficulties of reaching and sustaining a ceasefire, and the need to guard against a ceasefire becoming simply an opportunity for Hamas to rearm. For this reason, a ceasefire cannot be an end in itself. Rather, a ceasefire has the potential to halt the rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and prevent the need for further Israeli military operations in Gaza for the immediate term. It can then create the space necessary to help keep the peace negotiations on track, to enable the return of kidnapped Israeli soldier Cpl. Gilad Shalit, to address the smuggling of weapons from Egypt into Gaza, and to facilitate improvements in the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

We strongly support Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts and believe their success is deeply connected to the national security interests of the United States. As you continue your critically important efforts to achieve progress in implementing the Roadmap, including issues such as access, security, movement, and economic development in the West Bank, we urge you to consider the recommendations outlined in this letter. We look forward to working with you in your efforts to bring stability and peace to the Middle East.

Sincerely,


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II. FY09 SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET REQUEST
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On 5/2/08 the Administration submitted to Congress an amendment to the FY09 Budget, to "provide the necessary resources for ongoing military and intelligence operations, as well as foreign assistance activities in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. They also provide the necessary resources for selected other international activities that advance our national security..." The request includes some funding for the Middle East, as discussed below:

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Palestinians
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The supplemental request includes $50 million in funds for International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement (INCLE). The funds are to be used "to train, equip, and garrison Palestinian Authority Security Forces." It also includes $150 million in Economic Support Funds (ESF) to be used "for urgent budget support for the Palestinian Authority."

These amounts are in addition to funds requested for the Palestinians in the FY09 regular budget request: $75 million in ESF (for programs, not cash assistance) and $25 million in INCLE (to support efforts to reform the security sector by training and equipping National Security Forces).

The new supplemental brings the FY09 request for the Palestinians to:

ESF: $225 million ($150 million for cash assistance, $75 million for programs) INCLE: $75 million (for training, equipping, and garrisoning Palestinian security forces) Total: $300 million

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It should be recalled that on 10/22/08 the President sent an emergency budget request to Congress that also included funds for the Palestinians. That supplemental was rolled into the FY08 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which only partially funded the emergency requests for the Palestinians, as follows:

- the FY08 supplemental request included $35 million for Migration and Refugee Assistance (MRA) for UNRWA. It is not clear if that was funded entirely or in part, since the bill did not break down emergency MRA by recipient, and since Congress provided $30 million less total emergency MRA than was requested by the President.

- the FY08 supplemental request included $25 million in INCLE funds for the Palestinians. None of this was funded in the Omnibus (which contained no emergency INCLE funds).

- the FY08 supplemental request included $350 million in emergency ESF for the Palestinians, of which $150 million was for cash transfer budget support for the Palestinian Authority. Of the total $350 million requested, only the $150 million for cash transfer was included in the supplemental.

It is not clear if the FY09 regular and supplemental requests replace, or are in addition to, the unfunded parts of the FY08 Supplemental request discussed above, which alone represent unfunded requests for $200 million in ESF and $25 million in INCLE (and possibly up to $30 million in MRA) for the Palestinians.

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Jordan
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The FY09 Supplemental includes $100 million in Economic Support Funds (ESF), "including $60 million for support to communities that have experienced and influx of Iraqi refugees and $40 million to support economic growth, health, education, and governance programs to help Jordan cope with increasing economic pressures."

These amounts are in addition to funds requested for Jordan in the FY09 regular budget request: $13,144,000 in funds for Child Survival and Health Programs; $263,547,000 in ESF; $1.5 million in INCLE; $3.1 million in funds for International Military Education and Training; and $235 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF).

The new supplemental brings the FY09 request for Jordan to:

ESF: $363.547 million FMF: $235 million INCLE: $1.5 million IMET: $3.1 million CSH: $13,114,000 Total: $616.261 million

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Lebanon
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The FY09 Supplemental includes $50 million in Foreign Military Financing "for Lebanon to increase its ability to secure its borders and provide additional security training and equipment to the Lebanese Armed Forces."

This is in addition to funds requested for Lebanon in the FY09 regular budget request: $67.5 million in ESF; $6 million INCLE; $2.13 million in IMET; and $62.2 million in FMF

The new supplemental brings the FY09 request for Lebanon to:

ESF: $67.5 million FMF: $112.2 million INCLE: $6 million IMET: $2.13 million Total: $187.83 million

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Full text of the FY09 supplemental request: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/amendments.htm. For details of the regular FY09 budget request, see the 2/8/08 edition of the Round-Up.  For details of the FY08 Supplemental request, see the 10/26/07 edition of the Round-Up.  For details of the FY08 Omnibus Appropriations bill, see the 12/18/07 edition of the Round-Up


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III. TRIBUTES TO ISRAEL AT 60
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House:

Barrow (D-GA) 5/8/08 Cohen (D-TN) 5/6/08 (whose statement focused on the importance of the Israel-Turkey relationship) Costa (D-CA) 5/6/08 Hall (D-NY) 5/8/08 Hensarling (R-TX) 5/5/08 Platts (R-PA) 5/7/08 Schwartz (D-PA) 5/8/08

On 5/8/80, a series of statements regarding Israeli's 60th were made on the Senate floor. Where Senators directly addressed the peace process, excerpts are included below:

Bond (R-MO)  Cardin (D-MD) Carper (D-DE) Casey (D-PA) Coleman (R-MN) Dodd (D-CT)

Durbin (D-IL) ". The United States must remain engaged diplomatically to ensure that the process begun last fall in Annapolis, the most recent in a string of U.S.-led Middle East peace initiatives stretching back over 30 years, continues to move forward. We must work with other countries and the United Nations to prevent Iran from gaining the ability to develop nuclear weapons that could threaten Israel's security. We must provide appropriate assistance to the Palestinian Authority to enable it to secure its own territory and strengthen its democratic institutions. And we must find a way to stop weapons from making their way into the Gaza Strip and the hands of those who seek to do Israel harm. Such continued U.S. engagement is imperative if there is any hope for long-term peace between Israel and its neighbors."

Feingold (D-WI) ".As we celebrate the anniversary of one of our strongest allies, the struggle for peace and stability throughout the Middle East continues. Peacemaking in this region is no easy task, but we need to nurture the progress developed during the Annapolis Summit and keep working toward a two-state solution that resolves the decades of turmoil Israel and its neighbors have endured. I am hopeful that through a continuing dialogue and diligent efforts, we will see a breakthrough that improves trust and cooperation between all actors and provides a framework for a lasting peace."

Klobuchar (D-MN) Levin (D-MI) Lieberman (I-CT) Menendez (D-NJ)

Nelson (D-FL) ".I congratulate, along with all of the other Senators, Israel on its 60th anniversary, and the close relationship the United States and Israel have. It serves as an important purpose of promoting peace in the Middle East. Helping Israel achieve peace with its neighbors while maintaining its security strengthens both of our strategic interests. We must do everything we can to end the bloodshed and bring the parties together. We must resume those positive measures. We must, as the Good Book says: Come, let us reason together. Most of us out here support two states living side by side in peace and security for both. That was outlined by the President in a speech on June 24, 6 years ago. To achieve that, the Palestinians need to reform their institutions and cease those continued terrorist activities against all the innocents. Continued engagement by our country is required to help us get to that goal of peace in the Middle East. I look forward to the continued cooperation of Israel and the United States toward that goal. My hearty congratulations to Israel on its 60th anniversary."

Smith (R-OR) Wyden (D-OR)


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V. ACKERMAN ON MIDDLE EAST FUNDING
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On 5/8/08 the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia held a hearing entitled "U.S. Assistance to the Middle East: Old Tools for New Tasks?" Chairman Ackerman's excellent opening statement is included here, in full:

"If the next President-presumably in a fit of madness-was to ask me what should be done about the Middle East as a whole; as a region that is vital to the national security interests of the United States; that is wracked by numerous conflicts, crises and power struggles; and is in the midst of profound transformations in its cultural, economic, religious and political norms; I would cite the wisdom of that great American sage and musician, Warren Zevon, who said: `Send Lawyers, Guns and Money, the [you know what] has hit the fan.'

"It's hard to provide a more succinct description of the problem, or the prescription for fixing it. The problems in the region are diverse and complex, but our tools for dealing with them are, in truth, limited really to sending Lawyers, Guns and Money, though I'd suggest we not think of these things literally, but rather as categories for our assistance. And in this light we do have some good tools to work with if there is a will to apply them.

"At the top of the list of problems in the Middle East is the question of governance and freedom, from which many of the region's troubling phenomena flow. The UN's Arab Human Development reports, which describe in painful detail the extent to which the Middle East has fallen behind other regions in terms of education, health, technology and other significant measures of quality of life, has cited the lack of freedom as the key factor in these deficits. Over the long-term, it is hard to see how the Middle East can thrive without a substantial evolution in governance.

"It is neither the right, nor the duty, of the United States to pick the form of government for any people but ourselves. But that does not mean that we have to watch impassively as people in the region struggle for their liberty, and demand respect for their civil and human rights. Neither are we bound to watch in silence as governments with which we cooperate endanger themselves-and by extension our common policy goals-by alienating their own populations.

"We don't actually have to send Lawyers, but we can support the growth of civil society and help build the capacity of others to pursue the rule of law. Some of our friends might not like it when we support their critics. But if we do not help those trying to build a vital, liberal center in some of the countries on which we depend, we may find a region being led by those who came to power by deploring us, and their previous government's partnership with us.

"Some of our partners in the region face challenges that are more direct and brutal. Some states, like Iraq, Lebanon, and Israel are, everyday, struggling against Iranian-supported terrorists groups. These states need more than just our good wishes and sympathy for their dead citizens. Put bluntly, they need Guns. They need arms and, often, the proper training to deploy them. But they are ready and willing to defend themselves. Helping them to do so is not only morally right, it is prudent policy.

"Others states, especially those without oil-resources, but with predominantly young and growing populations, have significant economic needs that if unmet, will fuel the growth of Islamic radicalization at best, and at worst could destabilize those countries, and even others around them. They need Money; ours, and that of our partners in the international community with an interest in a stable, peaceful Middle East. Wise investments by ourselves and increased access to the U.S. economy can make a big difference in helping our friends in the region to grow and to thrive.

"Very simply, we need to send more Lawyers Guns and Money, and we need to know which to send where. And here is where the problems begin. In some places, I think the United States is deploying its resources wisely. I don't think it's a coincidence that in these places we have a clear sense of what our money is buying, and there is a clear objective which can be achieved by the application of resources.

"For example, since the Camp David Accords the United States has provided tens of billions of dollars in economic and military assistance to Israel and Egypt. Our tangible support for the peace made at Camp David has linked the two most important militaries in the region to the goodwill of the United States; we have prevented any further Arab-Israeli state-to-state conflicts, though the problem of non-state proxies has grown; and we have shifted the political center of gravity in the region toward peace with Israel versus the prior consensus for war.

"The total cost of the 29 years of peace forged at Camp David is about $150 billion. That's a lot of money. But, by comparison, that same $150 billion buys us just 1 years of war in Iraq.

"If we want to avoid sending our young men and women to the region, where they often come home in body bags, or without their arms, legs or mental health, then we need to start sending more Lawyers, Guns and Money, because the problems in the Middle East are not going away on their own, and they may not be resolved to our liking if we just stand back and watch.

"More than 6 and a half years after 9/11 supposedly changed everything, we still have critical embassies in the Middle East that lack sufficient security personnel and vehicles to allow our diplomats to leave the embassy and do their jobs. We have shortages of both Arabic-speaking diplomats and translators. We have regional partners that are watching Iran fund subversion within their borders to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars a year, and we are debating whether spending $26.1 billion on foreign aid and $11.4 billion on the State Department-that is, a combined 1.2 percent of our $3 trillion budget-is too much.

"In FY-2000, we spent $6.6 billion on assistance to the Middle East. This year--this year of crisis and war and looming disaster--the Bush Administration has asked for $5.5 billion dollars--a 17 percent reduction over the past decade. Should we assume the Bush Administration believes that everything in the Middle East has gotten 17 percent better? Just for comparison, in FY-08, New York City will spend $7.5 billion just for its police department, that's $2 billion more for peace and security on the streets of the Big Apple, than the United States is going to spend on bringing peace and stability to the entire Middle East.

"This kind of budget folly reflects a level of ignorance and pettiness and frivolousness which can not continue if we are going to protect our nation's security. Our enemies in the region and in al-Qaeda, are disciplined and focused, and their goals are inimical to our vital national interests and the security of our country. We, on the other hand, are spending $2.4 billion a WEEK on the President's misbegotten, unending, purposeless war in Iraq, and can't find $1.1 billion just to keep level funding for the most critical and chaotic region of the world. That's some legacy."


For more information, contact Lara Friedman, APN Director of Policy and Government Relations, at 202/728-1893, or at lfriedman@peacenow.org.