Hello NAAP-NY and friends,

We are all shocked and saddened by the continued devastation being wrought on the Lebanese and Palestinian people.

While a ceasefire has been passed in the UN Security Council (http://daccess-ods.un.org/TMP/9747973.html), and is temporarily holding (as of 8/15), the Resolution does little to ensure the protection of the Lebanese civilian population, to hold Israel accountable for its aggression in Lebanon and Gaza, and does nothing to address the ongoing occupation of Palestinian lands.

It is important at this juncture that we continue to unite and let our government know that we are STILL OUTRAGED at ongoing Israeli aggression and the ONGOING OCCUPATION of Lebanon and Palestine.

Take Action! There are three things we are asking you do to help:

1 - Contact your Elected Representatives
2 - Respond to Biased Media Coverage
3 - Spread the Word

Contact your Elected Representatives:

If you have never called your Members of Congress before - the people who are supposed to be representing YOU - today is a great day to start. It only takes a few minutes. Talking points are outlined for you below. Pick the few that you feel are most important. Your call will show our government that their Arab-American constituents have a voice - and that ALWAYS makes a difference.

Please take 10 minutes out of your day to make the following calls:

NEW YORKERS:
1 - NY Senator Schumer's Office: (212) 486-4430/ (202) 224-6542
2 - NY Senator Clinton's Office: (212) 688-6262/ (202) 224-4451

NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS:
1 - NJ Senator Lautenburg's Office: (973) 639-8700/ (202) 224-3224
2 - NJ Senator Menendez's Office: (973) 645-3030/ (202) 224-4744


ALL OF US:
Your other members of Congress. To find out who your reps are, click on the following link and enter your zip code to identify your representatives in the House: http://capwiz.com/arab.

Respond to Biased Media Coverage:
The mainstream media has been for the most part typically biased in their coverage of the crisis. When you see a biased story, on TV, radio or print write them an email or call - irresponsible media coverage must be addressed and held accountable to the truth.

To get an email address or phone number of almost any U.S media outlet please visit the following link: http://capwiz.com/arab/dbq/media

Spread the Word:
Please forward this to your friends and family. It is critical for our collective energy be channeled productively to respond to this tragedy.

Thank you,

The Network of Arab-American Professionals of New York
www.naaponline.org/ny | naap-ny@naaponline.org | 212.592.4052

Talking Points
These brief talking points have been extrapolated from multiple sources, including AAI and ADC alerts. Please use them as a guide.

· Balanced American intervention needed NOW: Balanced American involvement is needed more than ever to stop the violence and to protect the innocent civilians in Lebanon and Gaza from undue pain and suffering. The U.S has not been balanced to this point, and must engage as an honest and fair mediator with all parties in the region to secure a lasting, comprehensive peace.

· Israeli aggression continues to target civilian infrastructure: Israel has killed over 1,000 innocent civilians, displaced 1 million, destroyed hundreds of homes, demolished bridges, power stations, grain depots, highways and ports, for the stated purpose of freeing two Israeli soldiers captured in combat.

· This is yet another example of Israel's use of collective punishment in violation of international law. Most of these Israeli attacks on civilian populations are with US weapons, in violation of the US Arms Export Control Act.

· The NY Times on Aug 11 reported that Israel has asked the Bush administration to expedite a delivery of munitions. The short range anti-personnel rockets requested contain smaller cluster bombs that can inflict heavy casualties among civilian populations. Israel has a track record of using these weapons against civilians (recently in Gaza and southern Lebanon; in 1982 President Reagan banned giving such weapons to Israel for its use against civilians). In light of these facts, and the fragility of the current ceasefire, the U.S. must refrain from sharing such weapons.

· Release Arab Political Prisoners: The capture of 3 Israeli soldiers in Lebanon/Gaza was the Israeli justification for destroying infrastructure and collectively punishing the people of Lebanon and Gaza. However it is important to note that over 10,000 Arab political prisoners are wasting away in Israeli jails; most of whom without the ability to prove guilt or innocence through due process.

· US support for Israel's actions is putting America at risk: Blind US support for Israel's attacks has only led to higher levels of animosity towards the US all over the world - a grave threat to US leadership in the world and a blow to security, as we further alienate potential allies. Support of Israel must be conditional, as America's relationship is with any of its allies. We should have standards for our friends, and at minimum, these friendships should not compromise our national security while killing innocent civilians on a massive scale.