Opinion Editorials, August 2010

Help lift the Israeli blockade of Gaza by Setting Up Meetings with Members of Congress

By James Zogby

Dear Friend:

Last week we shared three videos of Gazans speaking directly about their circumstances living under the Israeli blockade.  As you saw, the consequences of the blockade for average Palestinians are severe.  On the basis of the humanitarian suffering alone, the blockade should end but that is not the only argument.  AAI has developed additional arguments, outlined below, and we need your help to communicate all of them to your member of Congress.

Starting next Monday, your member of Congress will be home meeting with constituents. We are asking that you set up a meeting with your member or with his/her staff to ask for support in ending the blockade. We have provided you with the talking points you need below but we need your help, as a constituent, to deliver them.

If you know how to set up a meeting with your member of Congress or their staff, then please do it now and click here to give us the information about the meeting.  The details will be put on our website and be made available to others in your Congressional District that would like to join. 

I know how to set up a meeting and want to do it now.

If you do not know who your member of Congress is then click here to give us your address and we will contact you with all the information you need to set up a meeting.

I need help to set up my meeting.

The argument you need is below and can be viewed fully by clicking here.

I hope you will take this opportunity to do something for the people of Gaza and to improve America's standing in the world.

The Israeli blockade of Gaza should be lifted for four reasons:

1) The Blockade is a Failed Policy

Israel's declared aims for the blockade include the weakening of Hamas, and the disruption of weapons-smuggling into Gaza. However, as acknowledged in the Jerusalem Post by Gershon Baskin, CEO of the Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information... read more 

2) The Blockade is Harmful to Israeli, Palestinian, and American Strategic Interests

Palestinians suffer the most immediate humanitarian and economic consequences of the blockade. However, it also damages their strategic interests as well as those of the Israelis and the Americans... read more

3) The Blockade is Unlawful

The Fourth Geneva Convention, which Israel ratified, explicitly prohibits the collective punishment of civilian populations... read more

4) The Humanitarian Consequences are Unacceptable

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon described the suffering inflicted on the people of Gaza by the blockade as "unacceptable."... read more 

Please act now.  Click here to set up a meeting or click here if you are willing to set up a meeting but need help identifying your member of Congress.

Sincerely,

Jim Zogby

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