Take Action on the West Bank Wall
On July 9, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that the wall
Israel is building in the Palestinian West Bank is "contrary to
international law" and that Israel must cease its construction, dismantle
it, and pay reparations to those damaged by it.
The ICJ clearly stated that Israel had the right and responsibility to
protect its citizens, but that this right did not extend to building a
massive wall through territory that they are holding under military
occupation. This is a ruling clearly in line with relevant international
law. Members of Congress who support Israel's military occupation responded by
introducing legislation condemning the ICJ ruling and backing Israel's
illegal wall.
The House quickly passed a resolution to this effect in July but a sizable
number of Members of Congress voted against it or abstained. A similar
resolution‹Senate Resolution 408‹was introduced in the Senate on July 20 but
was not voted on before the Congressional recess in August.
The Senate is likely to vote on it sometime in September. Now is the time
to act. Your actions can make a difference.
Contact Senators Snowe and Collins. Urge them to vote no on Senate
Resolution 408, which condemns the International Court of Justice for ruling
that the wall Israel is building in the West Bank is illegal.
Sen. Collins can be reached at senator@collins.senate.gov. Her Portland phone number is 780-3575. Her address is 172 Russell Senate Office Building,
Washington D.C. 20510. Sen.Snowe is at olympia@snowe.senate.gov. Her toll free number is 800 432-1599. Mail goes to U.S. Senate, Washington D.C.
20510.
Back to Peace Talk Index, Autumn, 2004