May 19, 2003

To: The Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

We commend you on your courageous decision to remove Saddam Hussein from power and promote democratic institutions in the Middle East. Your leadership is providing a real opportunity to defeat terrorism and bring freedom and stability to a troubled region of the world.

It is for that very reason that we want to share with you our deep concerns about your well-intentioned road map leading to the creation of a Palestinian state. When you outlined the road map in your landmark speech of June 24, 2002 you laid down very clear guide posts. You called for a new and different Palestinian leadership & not compromised by terror. You called on that new leadership to wage a sustained fight against the terrorists and dismantle their infrastructure. You made it clear there must be real action on these requirements, not just empty words.

Already those clear requirements are being undermined by the other members of the so-called Quartet the European Union, the United Nations and Russia. You and the United States are being pressured to show we are evenhandedand are being urged to pressure Israel to make concessions if there is merely progressin these areas.

Mr. President, it would be morally reprehensible for the United States to be evenhanded between democratic Israel, a reliable friend and ally that shares our values, and the terrorist-infested Palestinian infrastructure that refuses to accept the right of Israel to exist at all.

Americans were rightly shocked and horrified after September 11th, 2001 to see celebrations in the Palestinian neighborhoods expressing joy at the death of over 3000 of our fellow citizens in New York, at the Pentagon and in the skies over Pennsylvania. Similar demonstrations broke out at the news of early U.S. military setbacks in the Iraq war and every terrorist bombing in Israel is also greeted with grotesque displays of glee. Unfortunately, public opinion polls show at least half of the Palestinian people support the current terrorist intifada against Israel. In view of this reality, the road mapcould lead to a disaster.

The way to guarantee that it doesn't is to follow simple, but important, principles including:

1. There can be no viable peace unless Israel's neighbors concede its right to exist.

2. The Palestinian leadership must end the propaganda that permeates schools, cultural institutions and government-owned media, that teaches Nazi-inspired hatred of Jews and incitements to violence.

3. Terrorism against Israel, sponsored by Syria and Iran and carried out by Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, the Al Aqsa Brigades and other terrorist groups, must stop and the terrorist infrastructure must be dismantled.

4. Israel has a right to defend itself when attacked and should not be pressured by the United States, the United Nations or anyone else to be passive in the face of attacks on its citizens.

5. There is no moral equivalency between the free nation of Israel that believes in the consent of the governed and individual human dignity and the terrorist thugs that celebrate the deaths of innocent Israelis and Americans.

Mr. President we hope and trust that in the tough months of negotiations ahead you will adhere to these principles, which you have embraced before. We look forward to working with you to insure that there is a just peace in the Middle East that recognizes democratic Israel's right to exist free from terrorism and for all people of good will in the region to raise their children in peace and security.

Sincerely,

Gary L. Bauer
American Values

Frank Eiklor
President, Shalom International

Rev. Jerry Falwell
Chancellor, Liberty University

Joseph Farah
President, WorldNetDaily

Janet Folger
President, Faith-2-Action

Rev. John Hagee
Pastor, John Hagee Ministries

Richard A. Hellman
President, The ChristiansIsrael Public Action Campaign

James M. Hutchens
Chairman, Christian Friends of Israel

Dr. D. James Kennedy
Pastor, Coral Ridge Ministries

Dr. Richard Land
President, The Religious & Ethics Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention

Ester Levens
CEO & Founder, National Unity Coalition For Israel

David A. Lewis
President, Christians United For Israel

Michael Little
President, The Christian Broadcasting Network

Marlin Maddoux
Chairman, USA Radio Network

Ed McAteer
President, Religious Roundtable

Elwood McQuaid 
Editor-in-Chief, Friends of Israel

Rev. George Morrison
Senior Pastor, Faith Bible Chapel International

William Murray
President. Religious Freedom Coalition

Janet Parshall
Nationally Syndicated Talk-Show Host

Rev. Lou Sheldon
Chairman, Traditional Values Coalition

William E. Sutter
Executive Director, Friends of Israel

Paul Weyrich
Chairman & CEO, Free Congress Foundation

Herbert Zweibon
Chairman, Americans For a Safe Israel

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