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July 10, 2006

President George W. Bush
1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Fax: 202-456-2461

Dear President Bush:

We write to you out of our deep concern for the serious situation unfolding in Gaza, Palestine at this time.

Mennonites have worked in the Middle East since the late 1940s through our international relief and development agency, Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). Currently our staff in the region work closely with Palestinian and Israeli partners, seeking a just and durable peace to the longstanding conflict. In Gaza, we financially support a Palestinian women's health center, a women's food-processing organization and a children's centre in the Khan Younis refugee camp.

MCC staff in the region have heard directly from partners about the crisis situation unfolding in Gaza. Power and water have been cut off in many areas due to Israel's bombing of a major power station. Movement has been restricted because of the destruction of important bridges. Children and young people are terrorized by daily shelling and the sonic booms of fighter jets. There is fear of a major military onslaught.

We do not in any way condone the actions of Palestinian militants who killed two Israeli soldiers and captured a third. Yet we understand that such actions arise out of the desperation of a people whose cry for justice continues to go unheard by much of the world.

We urge you to use your influence to press for a diplomatic solution to the current crisis. A diplomatic solution will help save the life of the captured Israeli soldier, as well as lives of scores of Palestinians. A continuing military response on Israel's part will heighten the suffering for Palestinians in Gaza. It will also surely contribute to more extremist responses on the part of Palestinians and make long-term solutions so much more elusive.

Once again, we urge you to call on Israel to seek the way of diplomacy in the current crisis.

Sincerely,

J. Ron Byler
Associate Executive Director