President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Bush:
The grave humanitarian crisis in Lebanon and Israel demands an immediate cease-fire. We urge you to take concerted action with other world leaders to secure an immediate cease- fire in the violent conflict raging now between Hezbollah and Israel, and Israel and Hamas.
These attacks and reprisals of the past nine days victimize innocent civilians, those least able to protect themselves. Reports say that you have used the authority of the United States to prevent the world community from calling for an immediate cease-fire, instead appealing for restraint by the warring parties. We pray that these reports are not true. This violent conflict has created a grave humanitarian crisis. The lives of innocent civilians must outweigh any anticipated benefit to any party of this continuing war. War is not the answer.
The current humanitarian crisis could escalate toward a catastrophe, if an immediate cease-fire cannot be achieved. Already in the first days of attacks and reprisals, reports say that 29 or more Israeli civilians have been killed, others injured, and thousands have been made to leave their homes. In Lebanon, more than 250 civilians are reported killed, many injured, and 500,000 have been displaced or sought refuge in other countries. After 15 years of brutal civil war, the people of Lebanon had devoted 16 years to reconstruction and peacebuilding. What has taken a score of years to build up is being torn down in a matter of days. The killing and destruction must be stopped now.
Your presidential leadership and the full weight of the United States, acting in concert with the international community, should be applied now to achieve an immediate cease-fire between Hezbollah and Israel and Hamas and Israel, and to then initiate an intensive diplomatic initiative for the cessation of hostilities, leading to a sustained diplomatic process toward an eventual peace.
Sincerely,
Joe Volk
Executive Secretary
cc: Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Richard Lugar
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking member Joe Biden
Speaker Dennis Hastert
House International Relations Committee Chair Henry Hyde
House International Relations Committee Ranking Tom Lantos