Call for end of invasion of Gaza

Israeli occupying troops have continued their attacks on Palestinian civilians in the northern Gaza Strip for the 5th consecutive day in disregard for the lives of Palestinian civilians. They have caused dozens of casualties among Palestinian civilians and have largely destroyed civilian facilities.

On Saturday morning, 2 October 2004, Isreali occupying troops expanded their military operations in the Gaza Strip, especially in Beit Hanoun. Since the beginning of this latest offensive on the northern Gaza Strip, 45 Palestinians, including 21 civilians, 15 of whom are children, have been killed by Israeli troops. In addition, at least 250 Palestinians have been injured. Israeli troops have also destroyed dozens of Palestinian houses, large areas of agricultural land and the fences of a number of UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) schools.

Large areas in the northern Gaza Strip have been isolated, while Israeli troops have seized a number of buildings, transforming their roofs into military sites. In the meantime, electricity and water supplies and telephone lines have been cut from these areas. These areas also suffer from a shortage of foodstuffs, especially milk.

Jewish Voice for Peace, a national Jewish-American organization with 10,000 supporters, called for an immediate halt to the massive Israeli invasion of Gaza Strip. The group called for the United States and the international community to intervene to stop the Israeli military operation and prevent the rocket attacks by Hamas that have provided the pretext for it.

ACTION REQUESTED:

1. URGENTLY CALL, FAX OR WRITE YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO STOP THE ISRAELI SIEGE OF NORTHERN GAZA.

Detailed contact information for your Members of Congress can be found at the following link:
http://www.endtheoccupation.org/article.php?id=224 

White House - President George W. Bush

E-mail: president@whitehouse.gov  Washington Office: 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20500 Phone: (202) 456-1414 Fax: (202) 456-2461

Missouri

Senator Christopher Bond (R-MO - Washington Office: 274 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510-2503 /  Phone: (202) 224-5721 Fax: (202) 224-8149

Senator Jim Talent (R-MO) - Washington Office: 493 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510-2505 / Phone: (202) 224-6154 Fax: (202) 228-1518

Representative Karen McCarthy (D-MO 5th) - Washington Office: 1436 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515-2505 / Phone: (202) 225-4535 Fax: (202) 225-4403

Representative Sam Graves (R-MO 6th) - Liberty Office: 113 Blue Jay Drive Suite 100 Liberty, Missouri 64068 / Phone: (816) 792-3976 / Fax: (816) 792-0694

Kansas

Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) - Washington Office: 303 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510-1604 / Phone: (202) 224-6521 Fax: (202) 228-1265

Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) - Washington Office: 109 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510-1605 / Phone: (202) 224-4774 Fax: (202) 224-3514

Representative Dennis Moore (D-KS 3rd) - Washington Office: 431 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515-1603 Phone: (202) 225-2865 Fax: (202) 225-2807

2. Write a letter to the editor or opinion article for your local newspaper demanding that the United States end its support for Israel’s invasion of Gaza.

Kansas City Star -- E-mail: letters@kcstar.com / Phone: (816) 234-4636 / Fax: (816) 234-4926 / Address: 1729 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108-1458

Pitch Weekly -- E-mail: feedback@pitch.com / Phone: (816) 561-6061 / Fax: (816) 756-0502 / Address: 1701 Main St Kansas City, MO 64108

Independence Examiner -- E-mail: dbrendel@examiner.net / Phone: (816) 254-8600 / Fax: (816) 254-0211 / Address: 410 S Liberty St, Independence, MO 64050

Lee's Summit Journal -- E-mail: editor@lsjournal.com / Phone: (816) 524-2345 / Fax: (816) 524-5136 / Address: 415 SE Douglas St Lee's Summit, MO 64063

Olathe Daily News -- E-mail: odn@olathedailynews.com / Phone: (913) 764-2211 Fax: (913) 764-3672 / Address: 514 S Kansas Ave Olathe, KS 66061

3. Provide feedback on your email or letter to CJME: Send an email message to info@cjme.org to let us know you communicated with elected officials.

TALKING POINTS:

The US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation encourages you to raise the following issues:

* The Arms Export Control Act (Public Law 90-829) limits the use of U.S. weapons given or sold to a foreign country to “internal security” and “legitimate self-defense”. U.S. weapons may not be used against civilians. Israel’s invasion of Jebaliya is part of an offensive military occupation to protect illegal settlements. The invasion involved the injuring and killing of civilians with U.S. weapons.

* Israel fired a shell from a tank that killed 7 Palestinians and wounded 23, among whom were civilians. Four of the injured were under the age of 14. In 2003, the State Department issued export licenses to Israel for tank components and spare parts valued at $38,143,300. The use of tanks with components and spare parts licensed by the State Department is subject to the restrictions of the Arms Export Control Act. Israel’s use of tanks in Jebaliya violates U.S. law.

* Israel used armored personnel carriers (APC’s) in its assault on Jebaliya. In 2003, the State Department issued export licenses to Israel for APC spare parts valued at $1,155,600. The use of APC’s with spare parts licensed by the State Department is subject to the restrictions of the Arms Export Control Act. Israel’s use of APC’s in Jebaliya violates U.S. law.

* The Israeli army used machine guns in its invasion of Jebaliya. In 2003, the State Department issued export licenses to Israel for 472 machines guns valued at $3,769,316. The use of machine guns licensed by the State Department is subject to the restrictions of the Arms Export Control Act. Israel’s use of machine guns in Jebaliya violates U.S. law.

* Israel destroyed 22 homes in Jebaliya with Caterpillar bulldozers. In 2003, the United States exported $14 million worth of bulldozers to Israel. Caterpillar has admitted that these bulldozers sales “are openly conducted through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales Program,” making their use subject to the restrictions of the Arms Export Control Act. Israel’s use of bulldozers in Jebaliya violates U.S. law.

* Israel’s invasion of the Jebaliya refugee camp also violates international law. Palestinians living under Israel’s military occupation in the Gaza Strip are “protected persons” according to the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits attacks against civilians. The United States cannot provide assistance to countries that violate the Fourth Geneva Convention. According to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (Public Law 87-195), "No assistance may be provided under this part to the government of any country which engages in a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights”.

Data on State Department licenses to Israel were taken from FY2003 Section 655 Report:
http://www.pmdtc.org/docs/rpt655_2003.pdf


MORE INFORMATION:

- On the Disengagement Plan by MIFTAH - The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue & Democracy (6/14/04)
http://www.miftah.org/Display.cfm?DocId=4000&CategoryId=4

- On the Disengagement Plan by From Tikkun - http://www.tikkun.org/index.cfm/action/current/article/245.html

- "Sharon Aide Says Goal of Gaza Plan Is to Halt Road Map" - Washington Post - 10/7/04

- "Israeli Occupying Troops Continue Their Offensive on the Northern Gaza Strip Causing More Casualties among Palestinian Civilians..." - Palestinian Centre for Human Rights - 10/2/04

- "Jewish American group calls for international intervention to stop Israel's massive military invasion of Gaza Strip" - Jewish Voice for Peace - 10/1/04

- Urgent Appeal from Union of Health Work Committees (UHWC) Gaza - 9/30/04

- UNRWA calls on Israel to lift restrictions and ensure safety of staff in the Gaza Strip - United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) - 9/30/04