[Antiracism] Bigot to Testify to Congress on MidEast

[Nick Camerota]

***AREA ANTIWAR UPDATE: There will be a noon news conference in Springfield 
this Saturday (Feb. 17) at the Federal Building (1550 Main St.) in support 
of National No More $$$ For War Day. State Representative Benjamin Swan 
(D-Spfld), Greg Speeter of the National Priorities Project, Springfield 
pastor Luis Alvarenga, and others are slated to participate. Following the 
news conference, there will be a public speak out & rally to stop this war 
by ending its funding and bring the troops home now. Updates on the national 
petition drive to stop war funding, along with local mobilization for the 
March 17 protest at the Pentagon will be announced. For more information, 
email wmassiac at hoitmail.com and please type "M17info" in the subject line. 
Thanks.
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From: "ADC Government Relations Department" <christine at adc.org>
Reply-To: "ADC Government Relations Department" <christine at adc.org>
Subject: Daniel Pipes to Testify to Congress on Middle East Peace
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Daniel Pipes to Testify to Congress on Middle East Peace House Hearings on 
the Middle East Lack Balance Take Action!
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Daniel Pipes Scheduled to Testify
Take Action! Visit this page:
http://capwiz.com/adc/utr/1/NGDXGRWLQI/BJQDGRWLUA/1053906981]

[February 12, 2007] Congressman Gary Ackerman (D-NY), the in-coming Chairman 
of the House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, will be holding 
the subcommittee's first hearing of the 110th Congress. Unfortunately, the 
witnesses Ackerman has called to testify at the February 14, hearing on the 
"Next steps in the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process" fail to offer a 
balanced view of the Middle East. They include: David Makovsky, Policy 
Director of The Washington Institute for Near East; Martin S. Indyk, 
Director of the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at The Brookings 
Institution; and Daniel Pipes.

There are numerous experts on this topic who are available to offer valuable 
insight and perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Unfortunately, 
the House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia has chosen to 
ignore these voices and these perspectives. The American-Arab 
Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) has consistently pointed out the lack of 
balance in hearing witnesses and legislative language from Congress when it 
comes to the subject of Israel and Palestine. ADC reiterates its offer to 
suggest names of experts who could offer a nuanced and deep understanding of 
the conflict and ways to achieve a just and lasting peace.

Moreover, ADC is deeply disappointed that the New York congressman would 
chose Pipes, who has a long track record of bashing ethnic and religious 
groups, and spreading fear and hatred, to testify. He has also been among 
the most strident opponents of peace in the Middle East, has advocated war 
and violence which are in direct contradiction to peace. Pipes’ scheduled 
appearance sets an early tone of non-cooperation and bias from the new 
subcommittee chair. Achieving peace and security for both communities in 
Israel and Palestine is a serious matter which should be addressed by 
experts in conflict resolution and state building.

Pipes is well known to the Arab-American and Muslim-American communities for 
statements which are widely viewed as bigoted, racist and damaging to mutual 
respect and understanding among Christians, Jews and Muslims, both within 
the United States and abroad. Pipes’ statements regarding Middle East peace 
are widely perceived as outside the main stream of American politics and in 
2003, ADC led a national coalition of civil rights, faith-based and 
immigrant rights organizations against President Bush’s nomination of Pipes 
to the United States Institute of Peace. ADC led a campaign informing 
senators of Pipes’ hate-filled and discriminatory remarks against Arabs and 
Muslims. Senators walked out of Pipes’ nomination earing, forcing Bush to 
appoint Pipes to the USIP through a rarely used procedure called a recess 
appointment to sideline the senate committee.

Contact Congressman Ackerman about His Selection of Hearing Witnesses By 
Emailing Him Now!

Some members’ offices block email from non-constituents. If you are 
experiencing problems getting through to his office you may also phone him 
in Washington DC at (202) 225-2601.

*** UPDATE: There will be a news conference at noon in Springfield this 
Saturday (Feb. 17) at the Federal Buidling (1550 Main St.) in support of 
National No More $$$ For War Day. State Representative Benjamin Swan 
(D-Spfld), Greg Speeter of the National Priorities Project, Springfield 
pastor Luis Alvarenga, and others are slated to participate. Following the 
news conference, there will be a public speak out & rally to stop this war 
by ending its funding and bring the troops home now. Updates on the national 
petition drive to stop war funding, along with local mobilization for the 
March 17 protest at the Pentagon will be announced. For more information, 
email wmassiac at hoitmail.com and please type "M17info" in the subject line. 
Thanks.
_________________________________________________________________
Sent in solidarity by the Western Mass. Organizing Committee of the 
International Action Center/Troops Out Now Coalition * email 
wmassiac at hotmail.com

_________________________________________________________________
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