Letter to President George W. Bush

August 5, 2003
The Honorable George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC

Dear President Bush,

I am writing to request that the White House take no steps to delay the distribution of $9 billion in Congressionally-approved loan guarantees for Israel if Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon keeps plans to erect a security fence in the West Bank moving forward.

As you are aware, I have generally supported your policies in the Middle East. Recently, however, I am concerned that a shift in emphasis by the White House on implementing provisions of the road map leaves Israel terribly vulnerable to
terrorist attack.

According to news reports, the White House has decided to refrain from pressuring Prime Minister Abbas from cracking down on Palestinian terrorist groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad because the security services of the Palestinian Authority are currently too weak to accomplish this task successfully. Because the PA is too weak to prevent attacks from taking place from within its territory, it is logical for Israel to take immediate steps to protect itself against future attacks from these groups.

By building a security fence in the West Bank, the Israeli government is pursuing a reasonable defensive policy that respects the terms of the cease fire currently in force and does no violence to the Palestinian people. A similar fence that surrounds the Gaza Strip has already successfully curbed terror attacks from that area. Accordingly, any move by the White House to halt construction of the West Bank fence by delaying the distribution of $9 billion in American loan guarantees to Israel would interfere in a very reasonable expression of Israel's right to defend itself from terror, something the United States has properly done numerous times in the war on terror.

From the beginning of your Administration, you have been a consistent supporter of Israel and its right to defend itself. I respectfully urge you to continue this policy and not use American loan guarantees to compel Israel to end the construction of a security fence in the West Bank.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator