Open Letter to President Bush
Religious Freedom Coalition
May 22, 2003 9:17PM EST

Dear Mr. President

We commend you on your courageous decision to remove Saddam Hussein from power and promote democratic institutions in the Middle East. Your leadership is providing a real opportunity to defeat terrorism and bring freedom and stability to a troubled region of the world.

It is for that very reason that we want to share with you our deep concerns about your well-intentioned road map leading to the creation of a Palestinian state. When you outlined the road map in your landmark speech of June 24, 2002 you laid down very clear "guideposts." You called for a "new and different Palestinian leadership not compromised by terror." You called on that new leadership to wage a "sustained fight against the terrorists and dismantle their infrastructure."
You made it clear there must be real action on these requirements, not just empty words.

Already those clear requirements are being undermined by the other members of the so-called "Quartet" the European Union, the United Nations and Russia. You and the United States are being pressured to show we are "evenhanded" and are being urged to pressure Israel to make concessions if there is merely "progress" in these areas...

Americans were rightly shocked and horrified after September 11, 2001 to see celebrations in the Palestinian neighborhoods expressing joy at the death of over 3,000 of our fellow citizens in New York, at the Pentagon and in the skies over Pennsylvania.

Similar demonstrations broke out at the news of early US military setbacks in the Iraq war; and every terrorist bombing in Israel is greeted with grotesque displays of glee. Unfortunately, public opinion polls show at least half of the Palestinian people support the current terrorist intifada against Israel. In view of this reality, the "road map" could lead to a disaster.

The way to guarantee that it doesn't is to follow simple, but important, principles including:
There can be no viable peace unless Israel's neighbors concede its right to exist. The Palestinian leadership must end the propaganda that permeates schools, cultural institutions and government-owned media, that teaches Nazi-inspired hatred of Jews and incitements to violence.

Terrorism against Israel, sponsored by Syria and Iran and carried out by Hamas, Hizbullah, Islamic Jihad, the Aksa Martyrs Brigades and other terrorist groups, must stop and the terrorist infrastructure must be dismantled. Israel has a right to defend itself when attacked and should not be pressured by the United States, the United Nations or anyone else to be passive in the face of attacks on its citizens.

There is no moral equivalency between the free nation of Israel that believes in the consent of the governed and individual human dignity and the terrorist thugs who celebrate the deaths of innocent Israelis and Americans. Mr. President, we hope and trust that in the tough months of negotiations ahead you will adhere to these principles, which you have embraced before.

We look forward to working with you to insure that there is a just peace in the Middle East that recognizes democratic Israel's right to exist free from terrorism and for all people of good will in the region to raise their children in peace and security.

Gary Bauer, President of American Values

Other signatories of this letter are: Frank Eiklor, Shalom International; Rev. Jerry Falwell, Liberty University; Joseph Farah,WorldNetDaily; Janet Folger. Faith-2-Action; Rev. John Hagee, John Hagee Ministries; Richard Hellman, The Christians' Israel Public Action Campaign; James Hutchens, Christian Friends of Israel; Dr. D. James Kennedy, Coral Ridge Ministries; Dr. Richard Land; The Religious & Ethics Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. and Ester Levens, National Unity Coalition For Israel. David A. Lewis, Christians United For Israel; Michael Little, The Christian Broadcasting Network; Marlin Maddoux, USA Radio Network; Ed McAteer, Religious Roundtable; Elwood McQuaid, Friends of Israel; George Morrison, Faith Bible Chapel International; William Murray, Religious Freedom Coalition; Janet Parshall, Nationally Syndicated Talk-Show Host; Lou Sheldon, Traditional Values Coalition; William E. Sutter, Friends of Israel; Paul Weyrich; Free Congress Foundation; and Herbert Zweibon, Americans For a Safe Israel.

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