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Letter sent to Mr. Mcnulty our Represenative

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Letter sent to Mr. Mcnulty our Represenative
yunus
06/25/02 at 00:36:46
Salaam

Below is a sample letter people can use to Base a letter that they would send congressman Mike Mcnulty (who represents the capital district) this is a good way for people who are concerned about Palestine but maybe would be afraid to go to a rally but want to follow the example of the Prophet pbuh and speak a true word in the presence of an unjust ruler. All you need to do is copy paste print out letter i have sent and use some of the points and information to put pressure on Mr Mcnulty. All  it will cost you is 15-20 minutes of your time and 34 cents   This is very important for people to do and is their right to do so which is afforded in the US law. You can mail your letter to:
Obrien Federal Building
room #827
Albany Ny 12207
or
2161 Rayburn building
Washington DC 20515-3221

or email the congressman at
mike.mcnulty@mail.house.gov

Here is the letter

Dear Mr. McNulty,

My name is Michael Fiske I have been in a lengthy communication with your staff regarding the question of Israel and the illegal occupation of Palestine. Here in the capital district I am working with a coalition of activists of all faiths (in fact the majority of the group is composed by Jews) who are concerned with this brutal occupation and are working towards a just solution that would support self-determination of both peoples. Also I am the liaison for a national organization based in DC called SUSTAIN (stop US tax aid to Israel Now)

     I understand your position on this issue. Albeit I believe it is the wrong stance and is biased and unjust. Like you I believe that suicide bombings are morally repugnant and Palestinian attacks against civilians must stop. Suicide bombings have done a disservice to the Palestinian cause. I believe that now they need to have a non-violent movement in the sprit of Gandhi and Dr. King. Which would give them the “moral upper hand” and thus undermine Israel’s occupation. While you have condemned the actions of the suicide bombers you have not condemned the actions of the IDF. They also are targeting civilians. How can you support a people who not only violate international law on a daily bases but commit terrorist acts against Palestinian civilians (such as bulldozing houses, shooting children, imposing curfews, having a biased and apartheid system that has Jews only roads, ethnic cleansing through the building of settlements, and treating a race of people as if they were animals)?

     I digress my purpose for this email is to ask this question: In my most recent letter from you, you stated that US aid to Israel is not illegal. I want clarification on this issue. As someone who is on the Ways and Means Committee and helps decide where our tax dollars go you should be more of an expert on this subject than me. This year congress allocated 2.76 billion in direct aid to Israel 2.04 billion of which is allocated for military purposes. Your statement that aid to Israel is not illegal does not clarify whether you are speaking categorically or about economic or military aid. As for economic aid you are correct it is not illegal to send economic aid to Israel as for military aid from my understanding of the law that is a different story.

     The US Foreign Assistance Act prohibits military assistance to any country "which engages in a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights." Further the Proxmire amendment bans military assistance to any government that refuses to sign the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty and to allow inspection of its nuclear facilities. Which Israel refuses to allow. If your argument is based around the fact that Israel does no engage in a consistent pattern of human rights violations that is a very hard position of take. Also it would not address the illegality of sending military aid under the Proxmire amendment of the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty. But for the sake of argument lets see if Israel is consistently violating “internationally recognized human right”. What could we define as internationally recognized human rights? How about we use the UN document the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states that "the refugees wishing to return to their homeland should be permitted to do so at the earliest possible date.... compensation should be paid for property for those choosing not to return". Since 1948 Israel consistently has refused to allow the 1948 refugees to return to Israel and has not paid compensation to them. This is a clear violation of an “international recognized human right” perpetrated on a repeated basis.

     Further in a 1 year period of September 28 2000 to September 13 2001 there were 842 documented cases of Palestinian civilians deaths 242 of which were children 20,000 civilians were injured 2,000 permanently disabled. Israel destroyed 3,669,000 square meters of farm land uprooted 112,900 olive trees and destroyed 1,368 civilians houses (primarily from bulldozing) leaving thousands homeless all this in just 1 year. Further Israel closed 41 schools, 4 schools were turned into military barracks, 30 schools were shelled and fired on and 43 students were killed on their way to and from school all in a one-year period.

These forms of collective punishment violate the 4th Geneva convention article 33 which states "no protected person may be punished for an offense he or she did not personally commit, collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited pillage is prohibited reprisals against protected persons and their property are prohibited". This shows another clear violation of international accepted law, which protects people’s human rights. Israel has violated article 33 on a repeated basis. This is done by Israel's collective punishment through house destruction, curfews, check points, illegal seizure of land, destruction of schools, killing of civilians by snipers, destruction of property etc. Further article 147 of the 4th Geneva Convention states "willful killing, torture, or inhuman treatment... is prohibited". Israeli law allows for torture of prisoners. Again this shows another clear violation.

     I do not know if you were informed of these statistics and information but please check them to make sure that I am not deceiving you specifically view the US foreign assistance act and the Proxmire amendments of the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty. These seem to clearly show that military assistance to Israel is illegal until Israel stops its repeated violations of “international recognized human rights” or signs the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty.

Also the Arms Export Control Act stipulates that US-supplied weapons be used only for "legitimate self defense". It is highly debatable to say that the armored bulldozers US supplies Israel used to destroy civilians houses is a legitimate defense. Also whether targeting children who some maybe throwing stones is legitimate. Or bombing camps and houses killing vast numbers of civilians is legitimate. Or by using our weapons of destruction to protect illegal settlement is legitimate. Or even using our weapons to further an illegal occupation is legitimate.

Congressman John Conyers (d MI) has already requested that Mr. Bush investigate whether Israel's use of American F 16s is violating the Arms Export Control Act. No investigation as thus far commenced. Also Senator Robert Byrd (D WV) recently complained about giving aid without conditions "There are no strings on the money. There is no requirement that the bloodshed abate before funding releases." If you were to raise the issues concerning aid focusing on the illegality of sending military aid under the Foreign Assistance act and the Proxmire amendment you would not be the first congressman to voice compliant about US support of Israel.

I would like you to clarify your statement that US military aid to Israel (regardless of the amount or the fact it may have decreased by a few million) is not illegal in light of what I have shown. If you believe that we must still support Israel and send military aid to them. Then please change the law. As it stands now it seems clear that military aid is illegal.

     You are the one who can purpose bills. Please amend the law if you feel so strongly that we must still send aid to Israel. Come forward with three new bills. One that states that we send military aid to any country regardless of consistent pattern of violations of internationally recognized human rights. The other which states that regardless of a country's signature on the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty we will send military aid to them. The third bill should state that we would arm any country regardless of what their purpose for having these weapons is. I doubt the widespread popularity of any of these bills (if they were to pass) but at least then military aid to Israel would at the very least be legal (although not just). As it stands is right now all military aid to Israel must cease.

Not only is our money illegally sent there. But the US taxpayer is the tool for destruction against the Palestinian peoples. Their blood has stained our hands. Also we are furthering the illegal occupation, a crusade that Israel spends 2 billion a year on. How can you support terrorism committed by the IDF (Israel defense forces)? Why is the life of an Israeli more important then a Palestinian? What is the difference between suicide bombing and dropping rockets or bombs indiscriminately on a refugee camp? By sending aid to further the occupation we are creating an endless cycle of violence. We ask the Palestinian to stop targeting civilians in their attacks, why do we not ask the same of Israel's?

Please I implore you to stop sending military aid to Israel and follow the law of the United States of America, which you and your predecessors have created, or change it (which you have the ability to do). I would like to believe that you are a man of principles and values that stands for the law and for justice. Please do the right thing. Know that God is watching you and sees and hears all that you do and you will be taking in to account for your actions. As a Christian shouldn't you be promoting peace not supplying the IDF with weapons in violation of US law? The bible says, "that the peace makers shall be called the sons of God". Don't you know that they are killing your brothers and sisters too?

     I know that a step like coming out and saying that military aid to Israel is in violation of US law is a bold step. People in your district would support you though. So many feel that this violence on both sides has to end and no longer can we support one group (illegally) while punishing the other. With a step like this you could become a major player in the mid east peace process. With a picture in the newspaper (not only locally but nationally as well) a spot light on TV possibly an article in Newsweek/Time. Remember what Alexander Pope said "it take one man with principles to defeat 100 with positions." Be this man stand for what is right and what is congruent with US law.

I would love to sit down and meet with you and work with you on this issue. As would many other here in your district (specifically a rabbi from troy, several Imams and several priests and pastors whom I am working with to end the injustice in Palestine) I am sorry for past communications where I may have come across grating or rude. I am very passionate about this issue and would like to believe that the US truly stands for the high ideals it exposes. Please send you response in regard to the issue of illegality of military aid to Israel to:

Michael Fiske
70 nott Rd
Rexford NY 12148

Which as you know is my mailing address I reside in Watervliet NY.
Also you can email me a response at this email address: yunusfiske@yahoo.com
Or please feel free to call me at 518 273 0167

Sincerely,

Michael Fiske
06/28/02 at 08:48:38
yunus


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