CNN is reporting today that at least 47 Palestinians have been killed in ongoing Israeli attacks on
refugee camps and villages throughout the occupied territories.  We must now add these persons
to the more than 150 Palestinians who have been killed along with the several hundred who
have been injured in the past three weeks alone.  Over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the
last 17 months.

On March 4, Ariel Sharon described his policy to reporters: "It won't be possible to reach an
agreement with them before the Palestinians are hit hard. Now they have to be hit. If they aren't
badly beaten, there won't be any negotiations. Only after they are beaten will we be able to
conduct talks. I want an agreement, but first they have to be beaten so they get the thought out of
their minds that they can impose an agreement on Israel that Israel does not want ... They must
be beaten."  Astonishingly, a few days ago, Israeli cabinet minister Avigdor Lieberman called for
Israel to bomb Palestinian marketplaces, commercial centers, banks and gas stations.

U.S. government criticism of Israel’s actions, which Sharon dismissed, is less than compelling
since the U.S. unconditionally arms and funds Israel's illegal and  brutal occupation.  Moreover,
the U.S. accedes to Israel’s claims that all resistance to its occupation is "terrorism" while its
own violence and murder is simply a "right to self defense."  Given this reality, the visit of U.S.
special envoy General Zinni will do little in bringing real peace to the people of Israel and
Palestine.

The recent Saudi Arabian peace initiative offers nothing new in substance--"land for peace" has
been on offer to Israel for at least two decades and is the basis of the "peace process.” However,
this initiative will further test Israel’s claim that it simply wants peace with and recognition from
its Arab neighbors.  Israel already has recognition from the PLO within its 1948 borders, full
peace with Egypt and Jordan.  It  could obtain peace treaties with Syria and Lebanon if it returns
their land.  Now, the Saudi initiative offers hope of further and broader normalization.

We need to constantly remind ourselves that by offering to negotiate for an independent state in
only East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Palestinians gave up in advance the 78
percent of Palestine conquered in 1948, the country in which they were an overwhelming
majority and owned all but a small fraction of the land just a few generations ago. For making
this enormous, unprecedented historic compromise, Palestinians are still routinely accused of
wanting to "destroy Israel." Israel rejects even this fragmented Palestinian country and offers no
more than a form of super-autonomy under continued Israeli control and domination.

Israeli morale is at its lowest in years, Israel's economy is collapsing, and there is increasing
dissent within the army and society. Israel is in a deep internal crisis.

The escalating violence between Palestinians and Israelis is disastrous for both peoples.  The
way to peace has long been recognized by an international consensus as embodied in
international law and UN Security Council resolutions.  In order for Palestinians and Israelis to
live as equals, Israel must end the occupation of Palestinian land.

For more info: http://www.abunimah.org

ACTION
1. Write President Bush (you may copy and paste the sample letter below)
president@whitehouse.gov

2.  Have your organization co-sponsor the March 30 National Demonstrations to “End the
Occupation” planned for Washington, DC and Los Angeles, CA

For more information, contact: organizing@adc.org or call (202) 244-2990

SAMPLE LETTER
Dear President Bush,

In the name of all that is sacred, I call upon you to intervene in the Palestinian–Israeli conflict.
The U.S. should withhold all U.S. aid to Israel until it ends the occupation of Palestinian land
which, international consensus as embodied in international law and UN Security Council
resolutions, acknowledges is the road to a lasting peace.

Moreover, I support the call for two peoples and two states, a shared Jerusalem and the right of
return of Palestinian refugees.

Sincerely,