On Tuesday, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu addresses a joint session of Congress.
Although most of the media coverage will likely focus on Iran and the US domestic politics surrounding the controversial way that the speech was arranged (i.e. between Republican House Speaker Boehner and the Israelis, without consulting the White House), the widespread attention that the story will receive provides an opening to draw attention to Israeli human rights abuses and the problematic nature of the close Israel-US relationship. One of the most effective ways to seize this opportunity and apply grassroots pressure is by sending large numbers of letters to the editor to local and national newspapers.
The letters to the editor page is one of the most highly read sections of a newspaper and letters can be shared widely online as well. Moreover, even if submissions aren’t published, the fact that editors receive a large number of letters expressing disapproval of Netanyahu, US support for Israel, etc., may influence their news and opinion coverage in the future.
Included below are some key messages and talking points to reference, along with general instructions for drafting and submitting letters to the editor and a sample letter. The main focus of the proposed messaging is to inject Palestinian human rights concerns into the discourse, which has been focused almost solely on the Iranian nuclear issue, Obama-Netanyahu relations, and domestic US partisan politics.
Main Messages to Convey
• The leader of a country with such an awful/appalling human rights record should not have been honored with an invitation to address Congress.
• The close US-Israel relationship is not only bad for the Palestinians, it's a liability for the US because America is seen by much of the world to be complicit in Israeli human rights abuses and war crimes, thus fueling anti-American sentiment.
• American politicians need to begin standing up for freedom and justice in Palestine/Israel. They can start by ceasing to send blank checks to Israel and beginning to condition US military aid on respect for human rights and compliance with international law and US policy.
• [For Jewish writers] As a Jew and an American I reject Benjamin Netanyahu's claim that he speaks on behalf of Jews everywhere.
Suggested Talking Points:
• It's shameful/disgraceful that the leader of a country with such a terrible/horrible/atrocious human rights record was honored with an invitation to address Congress.
• Just last summer, the Israeli army killed more than 2,100 Palestinians in besieged Gaza, most of them civilians, including more than 500 children (according to the UN and rights groups).
• Israel continues to build settlements on occupied Palestinian land, destroying prospects for peace and violating/flouting international law and official US policy going back decades.
• The “special” US-Israeli relationship is actually a liability to US national interests because America is seen by much of the world to be instrumental in enabling Israel’s continued oppression of the Palestinians and other violations of international law.
• Benjamin Netanyahu should be on trial at the International Criminal Court, not addressing Congress.
Outlets to target
Any mainstream news or other media outlet that covers the speech in any way. It will likely receive widespread national coverage, and significant local attention as well. In particular, the following should be targeted:
• Your local newspaper.
• Talking points can also be used for call-in radio shows, for instance any NPR programs and local shows that cover the speech
General Instructions
• Begin by checking the opinion section of the website of the newspaper or other media outlet that you are submitting to. Most feature guidelines for letter writing, including maximum word count. When in doubt, 150 words or less is usually a safe bet.
• Draft your letter, making sure to highlight the main message(s) you want to stress while staying within the word count limit.
• Try to put the suggested talking points in your own words, so that it comes from your voice and doesn’t appear to be part on an orchestrated campaign.
• Submit the letter as soon as it is done, ideally within 24 hours of Tuesday afternoon’s speech and/or the particular article you are responding to.
Sample Letter
To the Editor,
I am appalled that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was granted the honor of addressing Congress.
Not only has Netanyahu repeatedly demonstrated his contempt for President Obama and disregard for the American political process, he is responsible for serious human rights abuses, including war crimes committed during Israel's attack on Gaza last summer
The US gives Israel more than $3 billion in military aid each year and invaluable diplomatic protection, making the US complicit in illegal Israeli actions. In return, senior Israeli officials routinely disrespect our President and jeopardize US national security interests through the ongoing construction of Jewish settlements on occupied Palestinian land, and repeated military attacks and other illegal actions that generate anger towards Israel and its main patron, the US.
More than 40 members of Congress pledged to skip Netanyahu’s speech. While an encouraging sign, more members should have refused to participate in his cynical political theater, and they should have done so based on opposition to Israel’s human rights record and denial of Palestinian freedom rather than matters of diplomatic protocol and partisan politics.
Sincerely,
[Name]
[City, State]
[City, State]
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