Reform Presses U.S. to Increase Role in Peace Process Group Urges More Bal

[Classical_Liberal]

Reform Presses U.S. to Increase Role in Peace Process
Group Urges More Balance From Congress
By Ori Nir
August 6, 2004

WASHINGTON — America's largest synagogue movement is urging the White House to step up its peace efforts in the Middle East and criticizing Congress for passing one-sided pro-Israel resolutions.

The policy recommendations were outlined this week in a letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell from Rabbi David Saperstein, the Reform movement's top representative in Washington. Citing a sweeping resolution passed last month by the Reform governing board, the letter states that the administration must "match" its public support for Sharon's unilateral withdrawal plan with a "vigorous" effort to bring the Israelis and Palestinians back to the negotiating table.

Saperstein's letter also criticizes Congress for passing pro-Israel resolutions that "fail to recognize the need for withdrawal to be directly linked to a return to the negotiating table" and "fail to address the troubling humanitarian conditions of the Palestinians." And the letter mentions the movement's opposition to the "Israeli government's policy of administrative home demolitions , which is most often applied... discriminatorily against the Arabs."

Both the letter and resolution outline the Reform movement's strong support for Sharon's general plan to pull out of Gaza and parts of the West Bank, in addition to offering severe criticisms of the Palestinians.........

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