Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, August/September 2000, Page 114

Publisher’s Page

 

American Educational Trust Publishers’ Page

 

We’ve Been Bumped…

From nearly half our allotted space by the generous response of our readers—you—to our June fund-raising letter. Summer is always a slow time for us financially (rumor has it that people take vacations), and we need all the help we can get to carry us through these lean months. If your name appears on these two pages, thank you! If it doesn’t…

 

It’s Never Too Late!

There’s no deadline to respond to our recent appeal. In fact, spreading donor contributions over several months helps to avoid the financial shortfalls that seem to befall us during the current months and at the end of the calendar year. We publish an updated Angels’ List in each issue, and nothing makes us happier than seeing names other than our own on these pages. So don’t give up…

 

Be an Angel!

Speaking of Names…

Astute readers may notice the absence in this issue of executive editor Richard Curtiss’ short and pithy pieces. (Well, maybe not short.) He currently is under doctor’s orders to stop overworking himself. Since this doesn’t seem to come naturally to him, family members and we here at the Washington Report are…

 

Laying Down the Law!

Not only is this human dynamo taking it easy this summer, but we’ve taken a cue from his doctor and decided to publish nine rather than 10 issues of the Washington Report this year, rather than push our financial resources to the limit. We knew all along that next year is the REAL start of the Millennium, and we plan to…

 

Welcome It in Style!

Between Now and Then…

However, comes a crucial election for Americans who care about peace and justice in the Middle East. The members of the 106th Congress’ Halls of Fame and Shame are on pp. 24-36 of this issue. The October/November Washington Report, to be published Sept. 25, will contain the latest figures on pro-Israel PAC contributions to all congressional candidates who receive them. We’ll also have an overview of each presidential candidate’s stance on issues critical to the Middle East and America’s interests there. What counts, however, is how American voters…

 

Use This Information.

The two major party presidential candidates, and their Green and Reform counterparts, offer a range of policies that, domestically, reflect the range of the American people. Regardless of who is president, however, Congress has the ability to override virtually any domestic Executive Branch initiative. (Whether members actually will do so is another matter in the hands of the American voter.)

What Congress cannot do, however, is call a summit meeting, pressure world leaders, or provide an excuse for a foreign leader to take an unpopular stand. The president of the United States, in other words, can take international initiatives, for war or for peace, that reflect the power and autonomy of that office alone.

 

We’ve Seen the Results…

Of seven years of partisan U.S. pressure, as Palestinians are told they must continue to compromise, while the American taxpayer, willingly or not, provides billions of dollars in money and arms to Israel, which continues to flout international law.

The upcoming presidential election, the last of the 20th century, may represent the last chance to make our voices heard before decisions on Jerusalem, Palestinian refugees, borders, water and other crucial issues move from theory to fact. Can Muslim- and Arab-Americans, and all of us who want to see our country finally play a balanced and principled role in the Middle East after 50 years of virtually uninterrupted partisanship, manage to put aside our differences and unite to vote as a single bloc that cannot be ignored? Or will our votes be determined by our differences and, in the end, cancel each other out? The amount of work to be done is formidable. But the result can make history. Let’s identify our priorities, roll up our sleeves, and…

 

Make a Difference, This Month!

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