On Mar 29, 2024, at 1:01 PM, Terry Lodge tjlodge50@PROTECTED [Northwest Ohio Peace Coalition] <peacelist@PROTECTED> wrote:

From: tjlodge50@PROTECTED    I invite anyone living in Marcy Kaptur's district to consider sending my below letter to her, either in your name and state taht you agree with the sentiments I have expressed. I don't live in Marcy's district and so cannot use the email notification available at her website. Her latest update on Gaza is below my letter, posted by Anne Marie Abowd.                    Terry Congresswoman Kaptur:     I note in your latest update letter to constituents your statement that "This latest costly war between Hamas and Israel must be ended." Just this past week you voted to give $3.9 billion in additional weapons to Israel, including expanded automatic clearance to obtain cutting-edge U.S. military weapons technologies. You also voted to deny U.S. aid to the  United Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA), which is the largest, indispensable distributor of medical and food aid in Gaza. The U.S. typically gives $300,000,000 to $400,000,000 per year to UNRWA, and the end of US assistance will severely cripple or destroy UNRWA's ability to function at all. Your support for Israel's intentional weaponizing of mass starvation will reinforce Benjamin Netanyahu's genocidal political hold as head of the Israeli government.     Besides doing nothing to attain the "lasting peace" you supposedly seek, voting to provide additional military assistance to Israel while simultaneously denying relief that is urgently needed in Gaza are, legally speaking, ACTS OF GENOCIDE UNDER U.S. FEDERAL LAW.      Your unwillingness to help lead the Democratic Party away from this monumental foreign policy disaster is a gross disservice that adds to the increasing likelihood of a Democratic electoral catastrophe come November. 'Terry J. Lodge On Friday, March 29, 2024 at 08:53:15 AM EDT, Anne Marie Abowd anneabowd@PROTECTED [Northwest Ohio Peace Coalition] <peacelist@PROTECTED> wrote:  From: anneabowd@PROTECTED Begin forwarded message: From: "Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur" <OH09MK.Outreach@PROTECTED> Subject: An Update On The Ongoing Situation In Gaza And My Work Toward A Two-State Solution Date: March 28, 2024 at 2:02:12 PM EDT To: anneabowd@PROTECTED News from Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur March 28, 2024 Dear Thomas and Anne, Earlier this year, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called upon the UN Security Council to recognize the importance of a two-state solution to achieve peace between Israel and Palestine. Furthermore, he emphatically stated that "any refusal to accept the two-state solution by any party must be firmly rejected." I resolutely affirm the Secretary-General’s view and continue to champion America’s decades long policy supporting the establishment of an independent and free Palestinian state. In January, I authored an opinion article describing the importance of the United Nation’s role in establishing a lasting and permanent peace in this terrible conflict that has raged for generations. On March 14th, I joined to introduce a resolution reaffirming the House’s support for a two-state solution. The United Nation’s actions after World War II founded the state of Israel, and the United States was the first nation to recognize its independence. The United Nations and United States can take similar action now to formalize a sovereign Palestinian state and recognize its independence. On March 25th, the United Nations Security Council agreed to, and passed a resolution calling for the immediate release of the remaining Israeli hostages and the cessation of fighting in Gaza. Such an action would allow for humanitarian relief to reach the starving masses sheltering throughout Gaza and in the southern city of Rafah. In response to the UN Security Council action, Israeli President Netanyahu has canceled his planned trip to Washington, DC. Netanyahu’s decision comes as he continues to block progress toward establishing an immediate truce and as he has renounced the possibility of a two-state solution. Cooler heads intent on finding an immediate and lasting peace must prevail. That is why I continue to engage in diplomatic dialogues with our partners in the Middle East and within the United Nations to chart the path toward a just peace. I encourage my colleagues in Congress to do the same. The United Nations must strive for a brokered peace treaty and truce across a region that has been harmed repeatedly by conflict. Over the past 40 years, other peace agreements between former adversaries across the Middle East have achieved some human progress. So must this situation. This latest costly war between Hamas and Israel must be ended. Sincerely, Marcy Kaptur US Representative Washington DC Office 2186 Rayburn Building Washington DC, 20515 Phone: (202) 225-4146     Toledo Office 1 Maritime Plaza #600 Toledo, OH 43604 Phone: (419) 259-7500 Unsubscribe  Privacy Policy Northwest Ohio Peace Coalition Post to: Northwest Ohio Peace Coalition ( peacelist@PROTECTED )  Manage Your Subscription  Unsubscribe  Northwest Ohio Peace Coalition Post to: Northwest Ohio Peace Coalition ( peacelist@PROTECTED )  Manage Your Subscription  Unsubscribe