We, the undersigned, as your constituents, write to express our deep concern about the plight of Palestinian people.  We are deeply disturbed about what no less an authority than South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu himself has called “Apartheid in the Holy Land” in which Palestinian Christians and Muslims are discriminated against solely by virtue of their ethnic and religious status in nearly every field of life, including access to land, water, housing, education, health care and transportation, immigration, property rights and more. 

As disturbed as we are by these sad truths, as American citizens who hold high the ideals of liberty and equality, we are even more disturbed that the United States Congress has not criticized these basic violations of Palestinian human rights.  Instead, for too many years, it has not only turned a blind eye to them, but has provided the government of Israel with virtually unconditional economic and military assistance in spite of them.  In so doing, it has severely damaged the causes of equality in Israel and Palestine, peace in the Middle East and sustainable security of the people of Israel, Palestine and the United States of America. 

Rather than continue with these harmful and failed policies, we believe that the U.S. Congress should pursue policies toward Israel and Palestine that:  

1. Support the rights of Palestinian Christians and Muslims to freedom and equality;
2. Stand with those Israeli citizens and civic organizations that have demonstrated their commitment to equality and reconciliation between the peoples of Israel and Palestine; and
3. Support those Palestinians who seek freedom and equality through nonviolent actions against Israel's occupation and discriminatory laws.

We are your constituents and we are growing in number.  We are educating our friends, neighbors and fellow citizens – who are also your constituents – about the situation in Palestine and the policy of the United States toward Israel and Palestine.  We hope that you will work with us to forge a wiser U.S. policy toward Israel and Palestine that advances the interests and ideals of the American people. 

Yours Sincerely,