Call Brian Baird about Gaza

[eridani]

PLEASE FORWARD THIS ALERT TO OTHERS WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED

Please contact Congressman Brian Baird and thank him for visiting Gaza last week and for speaking the truth about what he saw.

ACTION REQUESTED:

Please write or call Congressman Brian Baird, Washington Democrat from the Third District, and tell him that you appreciate his having visited the devastated Gaza Strip last week and expressing his outrage at what he saw. While you are writing or calling, you may wish also to encourage him to continue to take a stand against the Israeli occupation.

START DATE FOR ACTION:
Sunday, February 22nd

TIME BY WHICH ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN:
Tuesday, February 24th

BACKGROUND:

On Thursday, February 19th, two Congressmen and a Senator toured Gaza and surveyed the damage wrought by Israel's three week offensive of late December and January. In his statement, Senator John Kerry focused on the responsibility of Hamas, and stated merely that he was there to talk to UN personnel and "make personal judgment." Representative Keith Ellison of Minnesota, while he said he was "not there to assign blame but had found the civilian devastation hard to understand," also said, ""I'm sad to tell you that it was probably American-made weaponry that did this," and "I'm not proud of that."

Representative Baird was the most direct in his comments. We excerpt the following from a Jerusalem Post report: "The amount of physical destruction and the depth of human suffering here is staggering," AFP quoted Baird as saying in Gaza in a statement issued jointly with Ellison. According to the report, Baird said the situation was "shocking and troubling beyond words." (See http://www.jpost.com /servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304824765&pagename=JPArticle%2FshowFull)

Baird also said, " As a health care professional myself, I found this profoundly troubling, no, actually it's beyond that, it is outrageous."

Brian Baird released a press statement after his visit. His words show more resolve than the other two officials, and certainly more than the customary language from our Congress members about Palestinian suffering. In the past Baird has been helpful to Craig and Cindy Corrie concerning the case of their daughter, but he has been cautious about any criticism of Israeli policies. So his recent statements could be a breakthrough -- especially if we encourage him.

Baird's press release is reprinted in full below.

You can call Brian Baird's office at 202-225-3536
You can send an e-mail to him by going to: http://www.house.gov/baird/IMA/email.shtml

For other articles about the visit of the three officials, see
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/20/world/middleeast/20mideast.html?ref=world
and
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1107ap_ml_us_gaza.html

Thank you for taking your time to respond.

Note: Please e-mail us (or bcc your e-mail to us) at [e-mail] and let us know what action you have taken. This enables us to measure the impact of our alerts.

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TALKING POINTS:

1. Thank Brian Baird for traveling to Gaza, witnessing the destruction there, and for speaking the truth about what he saw.

2. Ask Brian Baird to press for an immediate opening of all Gaza borders and for the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid, as well as the entry of medical personnel, and journalists.

3. Ask Brian Baird to participate in pressuring the Israeli government to hold direct negotiations with Hamas; there is no other way to establish an enduring peace settlement.

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PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF BRIAN BAIRD:

For Immediate Release February 19th 2009

Brian Baird Views Destruction in Gaza - Calls for Immediate Relief and Change in Policy

Washington, D.C. - Two members of Congress, Brian Baird (D-WA-03), and Keith Ellison, (D-MN-05), visited Gaza on Thursday to view firsthand the destruction from recent Israeli air and ground attacks and to meet with international and local relief agencies. This visit, which did not have the official sanction of the Obama Administration, is the first time anyone from the U.S. government has entered Gaza in more than three years.

Prior to Gaza, both Congressmen met with the chief negotiator of the Palestinian Authority, Dr. Saeb Erekat, as well as with Dr. Riad Malki Foreign Minister of the Palestinian Authority. On Friday, Baird and Ellison will tour the Israeli towns of Sderot and Ashkelon, which have been the target of numerous rockets before and throughout the recent attacks launched from within the Gaza strip.

"Staff from the U.S. State Department advised us of security concerns for our own safety, and we are well aware of the sensitive political issues involved in this visit," said both Congressmen in an official release.

"We believe it is important to be here to see what happened for ourselves, to meet with people who have been affected, and to express our concern and support," said Congressman Baird.

"We also want to better understand what can and must be done to recover from the destruction, address the underlying issues, and work toward a lasting, just and peaceful resolution," added Congressman Ellison.

After spending the day visiting various locations within Gaza and meeting with civilians and relief workers, Baird and Ellison were deeply affected by what they had seen and heard.

"The stories about the children affected me the most," said Ellison. "No parent, or anyone who cares for kids, can remain unmoved by what Brian and I saw here."

"The amount of physical destruction and the depth of human suffering here is staggering" said Baird, "Entire neighborhoods have been destroyed, schools completely leveled, fundamental water, sewer, and electricity facilities hit and relief agencies heavily damaged. The personal stories of children being killed in their homes or schools, entire families wiped out, and relief workers prevented from evacuating the wounded are heart wrenching - what went on here, and what is continuing to go on, is shocking and troubling beyond words."

Inquiring about the status of relief efforts, the Congressmen learned that some aid material has been allowed in since the intensity of the attacks lessened a month ago, but much is still being blocked by the Israeli defense forces. Examples of aid that has been banned by the Israeli Government include: lentils, macaroni, tomato paste, lentils and other food. Basic building materials, generator fuel and parts to repair damaged water treatment equipment have also been kept out.

"If this had happened in our own country, there would be national outrage and an appeal for urgent assistance. We are glad that the Obama administration acted quickly to send much needed funding for this effort but the arbitrary and unreasonable Israeli limitations on food and repair essentials is unacceptable and indefensible. People, innocent children, women and non-combatants, are going without water, food and sanitation, while the things they so desperately need are sitting in trucks at the border, being denied permission to go in" said Baird and Ellison.

The Congressmen's concerns about treatment of Palestinians were not limited to Gaza. They also visited Palestinian hospitals that treat patients from East Jerusalem and the West Bank. There they met with doctors, nurses and hospital directors who described how official Israeli policies and restricted border checkpoints make it exceedingly difficult and expensive for patients, nurses, medical technicians, and other essential personnel to reach the hospital to receive or provide care.

"It's hard for anyone in our country to imagine how it must feel to have a sick child who needs urgent care or is receiving chemotherapy or dialysis, then be forced to take a needlessly lengthy route, walk rather than drive, and wait in lines as long as two hours simply to get to the hospital. As a health care professional myself, I found this profoundly troubling, no, actually it's beyond that, it is outrageous," said Baird.

Responding to this and other issues the Congressman emphasized that fundamental changes and solutions are needed beyond the immediate challenges in Gaza.

"The first and most urgent priority must be helping the people in Gaza. At the same time, the rocket attacks against Israeli cities must stop immediately. Just as the people of Gaza should not be subject to what they have experienced the Israeli civilians should not have to live in fear of constant and indiscriminate rocketing. The entire region and the international community must recommit itself to making the difficult but necessary changes to bring about lasting and just peace and security for the region. President Obama has made important and encouraging initiatives, now it is up to leaders and citizens here to move forward toward that shared goal"

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