March 18, 2013 The Honorable John F. Tierney 17 Peabody Square Peabody, MA 01960 Dear Congressman Tierney, In October 2012, fifteen prominent individuals from a variety of denominations joined together “as Christian leaders representing US church and religious organizations committed to seeking a just peace for Israelis and Palestinians,” and presented each member of Congress, yourself included, with a request. Specifically, they requested “an immediate investigation into possible violations by Israel of the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act and the U.S. Arms Export Control Act.” And they urged “careful scrutiny to ensure that our aid is not supporting actions by the government of Israel that undermine prospects for peace.” Their request was prompted by grave concern for “deteriorating conditions in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories which threaten to lead the region further away from the realization of a just peace,” and the conviction that “unconditional U.S. military aid to Israel has contributed to this deterioration.” To our knowledge, your office has not responded to that letter, a copy of which is enclosed for your convenience. Accordingly, we write to you today – as community or religious leaders in your congressional district – to express our support for the letter and to renew its call for Congressional hearings. We note with approval your past willingness to brave the controversies that are stirred whenever US policy in the Middle East is questioned. That such policy ought to be questioned, especially when the lawfulness of our weapons transfer programs is open to doubt, is a conviction we hope you share. Your position, as ranking member of the Oversight Subcommittee on National Security, Homeland Defense and Foreign Operations, further argues for a considered response to the request made of you in October by the leaders of major faith traditions – and as restated here by us. Letter concerning military aid to Israel 2 We therefore request a meeting with you to explore our concerns and how they might be addressed. For your convenience, we have included our e-mail addresses. Unless otherwise noted, any affiliation shown is for identification purposes only. We look forward to a productive and timely exchange of views. In the meantime, one of us will be contacting your office in the near future to arrange a meeting. Sincerely, Dr. Said Abuzahra, Wakefield Sam Baily, Clerk, Peace & Social Concerns Professor Emeritus, Salem State University Committee, Amesbury Friends Meeting [email address appears on original letter] [email address appears on original letter] Rev. Jeffrey Barz-Snell, Minister, Sr. Linda Bessom, SND, Pax Christi USA – The First Church in Salem, Unitarian St. Mary Star of the Sea Chapter, Beverly [email address appears on original letter] [email address appears on original letter] Toni Borge, Gloucester, member of Rev. Lee Bluemel, Minister, North Parish of The Israel/Palestine Mission Network, a North Andover, Unitarian Universalist network of the Presbyterian Church (USA) [email address appears on original letter] [email address appears on original letter] Carolyn Bresnahan, Pax Christi USA – Br. Mark Brown, SSJE St. Mary Star of the Sea Chapter, Beverly Emery House, West Newbury [email address appears on original letter] [email address appears on original letter] Jane Cadarette, North Andover Member, Pax Christi; Merrimack Valley Rev. Dr. Dennis B. Calhoun, Marblehead People for Peace, Board of Directors Sr. Minister, Old North Congregational Church [email address appears on original letter] [email address appears on original letter] Rev. Bradford Clark, Rector, Ascension Dan Connell, Gloucester Memorial Episcopal Church, Ipswich Former Director, Grassroots International [email address appears on original letter] [email address appears on original letter] Marcia Cowles Bushnell, Bedford Rev. Anne Deneen, Gloucester Artist, focusing on peace and justice issues Pastor, St. Paul Lutheran Church [email address appears on original letter] [email address appears on original letter] Ann Englehardt, Pax Christi USA – Rev. Christine Evans, Interim Associate St. Mary Star of the Sea Chapter, Beverly Pastor, First Church in Wenham [email address appears on original letter] [email address appears on original letter] Letter concerning military aid to Israel 3 William Foley, Danvers, Pax Christi USA – St. Mary Star of the Sea Chapter, Beverly Ronald W. Fox, Marblehead [email address appears on original letter] [email address appears on original letter] Pastor David L. Franks, Marblehead Jeanne Gallo, Ph.D., Gloucester Clifton Lutheran Church North Shore Coalition for Peace & Justice [email address appears on original letter] [email address appears on original letter] Rev. John Gibbons, Senior Minister, The First Tom Halsted, Gloucester, Former (founding) Parish in Bedford, Unitarian Universalist Exec. Dir. of the Arms Control Association [email address appears on original letter] [email address appears on original letter] Rev. Sylvia Howe, Minister Emerita, Sr. Theresa Kane, SND, Pax Christi USA – First Parish Church in Beverly UU St. Mary Star of the Sea Chapter, Beverly [email address appears on original letter] [email address appears on original letter] Sherry Kelley, Pax Christi USA – Rev. Tim Kutzmark, Minister, St. Mary Star of the Sea Chapter, Beverly Unitarian Universalist Church of Reading [email address appears on original letter] [email address appears on original letter] Rev. Joan MacPherson, Minister, Mariane Devoe Legault, Pax Christi USA – Main Street Congregational St. Mary Star of the Sea Chapter, Beverly United Church of Christ, Amesbury [email address appears on original letter] [email address appears on original letter] Annie Maurer Co-chair, Social Action Committee of Susan McCombs, Bedford, Chair, First Parish The First Religious Society of Newburyport (UU) Peace & Justice Group [email address appears on original letter] [email address appears on original letter] Rev. Art McDonald Minister, First Universalist Church of Essex Robert McNulty, Ph.D., Marblehead [email address appears on original letter] [email address appears on original letter] Ingrid F. Miles, Ipswich, Member, North Stephen Miles, Ipswich, Member, North Shore Shore Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) [email address appears on original letter] [email address appears on original letter] Dr. Marlyn Miller, Newburyport, Unitarian Rev. Christopher Ney, Minister, Central Universalist Association (Ministerial Candidate) Congregational Church of Newburyport [email address appears on original letter] [email address appears on original letter] Susan Nicholson, Ph.D., Esq. (ret.), Gloucester, representing the North Shore Rev. Jonathan R. Niketh Coalition for Peace & Justice Pastor, First Lutheran Church of Lynn [email address appears on original letter] [email address appears on original letter] (cont.) Letter concerning military aid to Israel 4 Dr. Judith Oleson, Rockport Susan O'Donnell, Pax Christi USA – Assoc. Prof., Gordon College; Coordinator, St. Mary Star of the Sea Chapter, Beverly Peace and Conflict Studies Minor [email address appears on original letter] [email address appears on original letter] David Packer, Bedford Virginia D. Packer, Bedford First Parish (UU) Peace & Justice Group First Parish (UU) Peace & Justice Group [email address appears on original letter] [email address appears on original letter] Paula Piraino, Pax Christi USA – Ivy Pompei, Bedford St. Mary Star of the Sea Chapter, Beverly First Parish (UU) Peace & Justice Group [email address appears on original letter] [email address appears on original letter] Joe Pompei, Bedford Brown Pulliam, Bedford, Vice-Chair, First Parish (UU) Peace & Justice Group First Parish (UU) Peace & Justice Group [email address appears on original letter] [email address appears on original letter] Rev. Heather Ramsey-Mabrouk, Lois Pulliam, Bedford Transitional Associate Minister, First Parish (UU) Peace & Justice Group Second Congregational Church of Beverly [email address appears on original letter] [email address appears on original letter] Sandra Thaxter, Newburyport Peter Stewart, Hamilton, Pax Christi USA – Co-chair, Social Action Committee of St. Mary Star of the Sea Chapter, Beverly The First Religious Society of Newburyport [email address appears on original letter] [email address appears on original letter] Rev. Jim Todd, Pastor (ret.), Rev. Ross E. Varney, Pastor, Belleville First United Methodist Church of No Andover Congregational Church, Newburyport [email address appears on original letter] [email address appears on original letter] Howard Webber, Bedford Lay minister (ret.), past member of the Karen Watkins, Pax Christi USA – Massachusetts Diocesan Council of the St. Mary Star of the Sea Chapter, Beverly Episcopal Church [email address appears on original letter] Linda Weltner, Marblehead, David Zackon, Wakefield Author, former Boston Globe columnist Member, Jewish Voice for Peace [email address appears on original letter] [email address appears on original letter] enc cc: The Honorable John F. Tierney, 2238 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515 .