Dear AUPHR supporters:

I just got off the phone with one of Representative Blumenauer’s staff people.
He refuses to sign the letter being circulated by Representatives Kucinich and
Hinchey criticizing the settlements and asking for action from the administration.

Apparently there was some language in the letter he did not agree with which I
did not go into. The staffer said that Blumenauer did sign some kind of Gaza letter calling for
dialog. I said that all this talk without action will lead to the end of any
chance of a Palestinian state.

Blumenauer’s contact information and the text of the Kucinich letter follow.

Sincerely,
Peter Miller
www.auphr.org

You may contact Earl Blumenauer at:
http://blumenauer.house.gov/index.php?option=com_email_form&Itemid=206

PORTLAND:
729 N.E. Oregon Street
Suite 115
Portland, OR 97232
t: (503) 231-2300
f: (503) 230-5413

WASHINGTON D.C.:
2267 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
t: (202) 225-4811
f: (202) 225-8941

The text of the Kucinich-Hinchey letter:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/kucinich-hinchey-secretar_b_100715.html

We wish to applaud your recent statement, following your meeting with
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, that “[s]ettlement activity
should stop — expansion should stop.” We commend this sensible approach
and urge the Administration to stand firm on this policy.

As you know, construction of more settlements will undermine a two-state
solution. A peaceful resolution to conflict can only be achieved with the
support and trust of both Israelis and Palestinians.

For that reason, the Administration’s peace initiative should include an
effective diplomatic response to the Israeli government’s March 31, 2008
announcement regarding plans to build hundreds of new settlements on occupied
land in the West Bank. We urge you to use your
influence to ensure that the commitment to a “settlement freeze” made
by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert at the Annapolis peace conference is fulfilled.

In addition to undermining the peace process, settlement expansion
contravenes international law.

Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention which states, that “The
Occupying Power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian
population into the territory it occupies.” Your continued emphasis on
halting settlement activity is critical to ongoing peace negotiations.

We look forward to your continued commitment to
this important issue.