From : NYTikkun Sent : Sunday, April 2, 2006 1:25 AM Meeting location last-minute announcement. To members of the New York City Tikkun Community. Due to unforseen circumstances, we will not be able to use the space in which we usually meet on Monday. I tried to find alternative space but I was unable. I apologize for the lateness of this announcement but I was trying to find an alternative space. I propose to meet at the Moonstruck Diner on the corner of 9th Avenue and 23rd St. at 7:00 PM ============================ The Israeli elections result in-terms of the party with the most votes was not a surprise. The fact that Kadima won only 28 seats when they had been expected to win 37 to 42 is significant. A center-left coalition government In the week before the election the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas put forward a proposal that the government of Israel negotiate with him to bring to a close the era of struggle between the Palestinian people and the people of Israel. He further proposed President Bush to be part of the talks. On the day after his election victory, Prime Minister-elect Olmert has proposed peace talks with Mr. Abbas. Mr. Abbas has proposed to the American president that Mr. Bush mediate final-status talks which would address all issues, including security, territory and refugees and create the "viable contiguous Palestinian state" that Mr. Bush has insisted is the key to peace. Newly installed Prime Minister Haniyeh of the Hamas-led Cabinet has said he would not oppose negotiation. We must insist to president Bush that he agree to mediate negotiation There are two resolutions before Congress that would drastically limit aid to the Palestinian Authority and make diplomatic contact impossible. The US House of Representatives resolution, HR 4681, and a newer Senate resolution, S 2370, are likely to be put to a vote soon. In the meantime Palestinians are are near to starving and more and more western governments are cutting off funding. At this moment Mahmoud Abbas and Ehud Olmert have each announced they are ready for peace talks. The strategy of the GOI reported in the New York Times to destabilize the PA until they crumble will increase the Palestinians suffering and not a good strategy to achieve peace. We must act to let Congress and the president know how we feel. Come with some ideas for action. Ideas could include letting co-sponsors who live in NYC know how we feel as well as letters to your congressperson. Co-sponsors in NYC and vicinity: Rep. Gary Ackerman D-NY Long Island Rep. Joseph Crowley D-NY Queens and the Bronx Rep. Vito Fossella R-NY Staten Island and Brooklyn Rep. Steve Israel D-NYLong Island Rep. Carolyn Maloney D-NY East side Manhattan and Astoria Rep. Jerrold Nadler D-NY Manhattan Rep. Gregory Meeks D-NY Queens and Brooklyn
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