Faxed Letter to the House: Oppose Resolution to Denounce Goldstone (H.Res. 867)

Nov 17, 2009

This letter was sent by fax to every member of Congress preceding the vote on H.Res. 867 on November 3rd, 2009, urging them not to pass the resolution. While it did pass with a great majority, 344 Yea to 36 Nay with 22 voting present, the 58 dissenting voices were a clear signal of members' dissatisfaction with the matter and FCNL believes those representatives could help build the foundation for Congressional support for Middle East Peace. See the full roll call vote count here.

***

November 3, 2009

Dear Representative,

We write to urge you to vote today against H.Res. 867 that calls on the Obama administration to oppose any further UN consideration of the report authored by Justice Richard Goldstone setting out evidence of war crimes committed by Hamas and Israel during fighting in Gaza ten months ago.

Passage of H.R. 867 would give House approval to the many errors and misrepresentations of fact contained in the resolution's whereas clauses. Justice Goldstone wrote to original sponsors of H.R. 867 on October 29 noting and persuasively rebutting 14 serious errors and misrepresentations of fact contained in the resolution.

Passage of H.R. 867-because it fails to endorse the Obama administration's call for Israel to conduct an independent investigation of the allegations contained in the Goldstone report-will also discourage the mounting calls for a credible Israeli investigation. Six leading Israeli human rights organizations wrote last week expressing concern that H.Res. 867 "may derail the momentum towards an Israeli investigation" and urging "interested parties and Members of the House to show their support for the internal democratic conversation taking place in Israel and to call on Israel to demonstrate that it can ensure genuine accountability at home."

Israelis across the political spectrum, including four cabinet members, are calling for an independent Israeli investigation. The administration is right to urge the Israeli government to establish such an inquiry. Congress should endorse the administration's call instead of passing a resolution built on misrepresentation that will discourage efforts to determine the truth and hold accountable any Israelis or Palestinians found to have committed war crimes in the Gaza fighting.

Thank you very much for your consideration.

Sincerely,



James Fine
Legislative Secretary for Foreign Policy
PDF Version