*This week U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is meeting with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas during her visit to occupied Palestine. She will be outlining steps that the U.S. will take to strengthen Abbas and weaken the democratically elected Hamas government. In particular, the U.S. plans to strengthen security forces loyal to Abbas, who are responsible for the current riots in Gaza and the West Bank. Please take a moment to write to your elected officials and to express to them your outrage over what seems to be U.S. advocacy for civil war in the Occupied Territories.

*Also, tell your representatives to pressure President Mahmoud Abbas to reign in his security forces within the territories, and, to pressure Israel to release Hamas Parliamentarians, two-thirds of which are being held hostage by the Israeli government. These Parliamentarians were kidnapped by the Israelis and they are being held as bargaining chips for the release of a kidnapped Israeli soldier which Hamas had nothing to do with. Ask your elected officials to demand a clear explanation from the White House as to whether this country is serious about supporting democracy in the Middle East, or whether this country is merely playing lip service in order to continue to prop up and support regimes in the Middle East that were not elected by the people. Ask your elected officials to stop the current administration before it succeeds in turning the Palestinian territories into another Iraq.

To empower those who seek a fair and balanced approach to the middle east conflict [Apparently that's fairness to Hamas and balance between terrorists and their victims. -S]. We hope to help members and visitors contact congress with a clear message against the occupation in the holy land.

PRINCIPLES AND ISSUES

We unequivocally stand for justice, human rights, and democracy for all and recognize that no lasting peace in any region, or the world itself, can exist until people are free and all their rights are fully recognized.

• End Aid to Israel & all other countries which are oppressive and guilty of violating international human rights laws. [Including the Palestinian Authority?]
• End the Occupation of Palestine
• The Right of Return for all refugees (Palestinian or others)
• Protect Civil Liberties of Arab Americans by influencing national legislation.