The Palestinians continue to wage a campaign of violence against Israel that is a result of the decisions made by Palestinian leaders. We ask you to urge your Senators to cosponsor an amendment to the Senate version of the fiscal year 2002 foreign aid bill that will be offered by Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY) when Congress returns after Labor Day.

The legislation requires that sanctions be imposed on the PLO and the Palestinian Authority if the president cannot certify that they are meeting their commitments to fight terrorism and end their use of violence.

• Call Senator Feinstein to thank her for co-sponsoring the amendment.
  
• Call Senator Boxer to ask her to co-sponsor the amendment.
            Feinstein: 202-224-3841
            Boxer: 202-224-3553
            Capital Switchboard: 202-224-3121

Background Information on the McConnell/Feinstein Amendment Floor action on the fiscal year 2002:

Foreign Aid Appropriations Bill is expected when Senators return from recess after Labor Day. Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) have announced their intention to offer an amendment to the bill that would require sanctions to be imposed on the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) if the president cannot certify that they are meeting their commitments to renounce terrorism and end the violence.

Similar to the language contained in the House foreign aid bill, the amendment provides the president with a menu of sanctions, including closing the Palestinian information office in the United States, designating the PLO and its constituent groups as foreign terrorist organizations and restricting U.S. assistance to the West Bank and Gaza.

As Israel continues to exercise restraint in the face of on-going terrorist attacks, it is extremely important that we urge Senators to co-sponsor the McConnell/Feinstein Amendment and send a clear and unambiguous message to the Palestinian leadership that such behavior will not be tolerated.

Talking Points Palestinians Choose Path of Violence:

• The Palestinian response to the historic compromises offered by the previous Barak government at the negotiating table was to engage in more than ten months of violence.
  
• Since September, the Palestinians have carried out 6,500 terrorist attacks, which have killed 137 Israelis, nearly 75 percent of them civilians.
  
• Factions aligned with Arafat, including the Tanzim and Force 17, have been at the forefront of the planning and carrying out of an average of 20 terrorist attacks per day against Israeli military personnel and civilians. The Palestinian Authority Violates Commitments:
  
• The Palestinian use of violence against Israel as a political tool runs contrary to every agreement signed with Israel during the past eight years. This campaign of violence also violates commitments the Palestinians made to the United States and runs contrary to what is expected of any peace partner.
  
• There can be no negotiations until Arafat takes real steps to quell the violence, including the re-arresting of terrorists released from Palestinian jails in October, preventing terrorist attacks and ending incitement.
  
• Now is the Time to Reassess the Relationship with the Palestinians. The U.S. relationship with the PLO began and grew only because of its pledge to renounce violence and pursue a negotiated settlement of the conflict.
  
• If the Palestinians continue this path of violence, the United States must make it clear that they have little to gain and a tremendous amount to lose, including ties with the United States.