The House and Senate passed bills in early May that were largely symbolic to express their solidarity with Israel. Now legislation titled the "Arafat Accountability Act" has been introduced that mandates actions that will harm Palestinian interests in the U.S. and undermine the Administration's diplomatic abilities. Members of Congress should, instead, support energetic and sustained U.S. leadership toward a political solution that would end Israel's occupation and lead to a democratic and viable Palestinian state.

ACTION

Every Representative and Senator needs to get calls urging them NOT to sign on as a cosponsor of H.R. 4693 or S. 2194 -- both titled the "Arafat Accountability Act." These bills undermine the President and Secretary of State's diplomatic efforts to end the Israeli-Palestinian crisis and bring about a political process that can pave the way for security and peace. Ask them to speak out in support of energetic and sustained U.S. involvement in cooperation with the United Nations, European Union, Russia and key Arab states.

Call your Representatives and Senators: You are most likely to reach the legislative assistant for foreign policy on Mondays and Fridays or after 5:00 PM EST. Capitol Switchboard 202-224-3121 (both House and Senate).

Send letters to the local office or to:
The Honorable _______________
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Find emails at www.house.gov

The Honorable _______________
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Find E-mails at www.senate.gov

BACKGROUND

This bill was introduced by Senators Dianne Feinstein and Mitch McConnell on April 18 but was shelved, temporarily, at the request of the White House. The House version was introduced on May 9 by Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO).

The Arafat Accountability Act would freeze the U.S.-held assets of the PLO and the Palestinian Authority, prohibit visas to enter the U.S. to any PLO or PA official, downgrade the PLO office in Washington and restrict the travel of the PLO representative to the U.N. H.R. 4693 or S. 2194 can be read along with the updated list of cosponsors on the Library of Congress website, thomas.loc.gov/

Legislation that mandates sanctions often includes a "national security waiver" which allows the President to not enforce the sanctions. But in the Arafat Accountability Act, most of the sanctions are not waiverable. The legislation makes no requests of the Israeli government.

The PCUSA joined other national churches in a letter sent to all Representatives and Senators on April 17 by Churches for Middle East Peace. That letter called upon Congress to "cease any legislative initiatives designed to punish the Palestinian people or limit their representatives to conduct much-needed diplomatic efforts…"

On April 4, the President offered his vision for achieving peace and security in the Middle East. In his speech, he vigorously called upon Arafat and Arab leaders to fight and condemn terror. But unlike this legislation, the President also called upon Israel to stop settlement activity, withdraw without delay from cities it had reoccupied and to treat ordinary Palestinians with compassion, easing the closures and allowing peaceful people to go back to work.

Many members of Congress choose to show their support for Israel by suppressing any criticism or pressure on the Israeli government and focusing attention on Palestinian failures and violence. Advocates are encouraged to call the cosponsors of the "Arafat Accountability Act," urge them to withdraw their sponsorship of the legislation and, instead, to HELP the Administration bring an end to the occupation. That's what a real friend of Israel would do!

Cosponsors of H.R. 4693 (as of June 6, from Thomas website)
Gary Ackerman (D-NY) 202-225-2601
Roy Blunt (R-MO) 202-225-6536
Benjamin Gilman (R-NY) 202-225-3776
Robert Menendez (D-NJ) 202-225-7919

Cosponsors of S. 2194 (as of June 6, from Thomas website)
Robert Bennett (R-UT) 202-224-5444
Barbara Boxer (D-CA) 202-224-3553
Jim Bunning (R-KY) 202-224-4343
Jean Carnahan (D-MO) 202-224-6154
Max Cleland (D-GA) 202-224-3521
Hilary Clinton (D-NY) 202-224-4451
Susan Collins (R-ME) 202-224-2523
Jon Corzine (D-NJ) 202-224-4744
John Ensign (R-NV) 202-224-6244
Diane Feinstein (D-CA) 202-224-3841
Charles Grassley (R-IA) 202-224-3744
Tim Hutchinson (R-AR) 202-224-2353
Tim Johnson (D-SD) 202-224-5842
Jon Kyl (R-AZ) 202-224-4521
Mary Landrieu (D-LA) 202-224-5824
Mitch McConnell (R-KY) 202-224-2541

Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) 202-224-4654
Zell Miller (D-GA) 202-224-3643
Frank Murkowski (R-AK) 202-224-6665
Bill Nelson (D-FL) 202-224-5274
Charles Schumer (D-NY) 202-224-6542
Jeff Sessions (R-AL) 202-224-4124
Bob Smith (R-NH) 202-224-2841
Gordon Smith (R-OR) 202-224-3753
Olympia Snowe (R-ME) 202-224-5344
Arlen Specter (R-PA) 202-224-4254
Robert Torricelli (D-NJ) 202-224-3224

The 2001 General Assembly

"Directs the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly to send a letter to President George W. Bush, Vice-President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Colin Powell, the Ambassador to the United Nations, and all members of Congress, asking that they urge and work with both the Israelis and the Palestinians to seek a just and lasting peace; urging the conversion of funds presently budgeted or allocated for military assistance for nations of the Middle East to support for humanitarian assistance and economic aid; and discouraging the private, direct or indirect, sale of military weaponry to Middle Eastern nations. (Minutes, 2001, Part I, p. 478)