Press Release

Meeting with State Department on Palestine/Israel issues

Palestinian American Congress

Washington, DC, July 27, 2004: A delegation from New York and New Jersey representing the Palestinian American  Congress, PAC, visited Washington, DC  and held a 90 minute meeting with Mrs. Elizabeth Dibble, Deputy Assistance Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs at the Department of State. Four area activists urged the Secretary to center United States policy in the Middle East on evenhandedness, international law and our own principles of justice, fairness and equality. The delegation engaged the Secretary on the major issues ranging from the Israeli Barrier, the systematic human and civil rights abuses facing the Palestinians people under Israeli's military occupation, the settlements, the refugees, United Nations role and the Road Map. On every issue, the delegation pointedly reminded the Secretary how the United States has sided with Israel. The Secretary was provided with detailed information, maps and examples of how Israel's security will only be  possible when the security of the Palestinians people is also assured through the ending of Israel's military occupation and the establishment of a viable, sovereign and contiguous Palestinian State.

"America's interests and position in the world can be best served by fulfilling the legitimate demands and aspirations of the Palestinian people", stated  Dr. Aref Assaf, national board member of PAC . "Secretary Dibble, added Dr. Assaf, " was very keen to hear our view point and reaffirmed United States’ desire to take a more direct role in helping the warring parties to conclude  a negotiated settlement. While acknowledging the complexity of the situation, she assured our delegation that our concerns will be raised and included in future deliberation at the State Department."

Joining the Secretary was Mr. David Greene, Director of the Israel/Palestine Desk at the State Department. The NY/NJ delegation was comprised of members of the Palestinian American Congress and included Dr. Aref Assaf, Mr. Maher Abdelqader, Dr. Ghassan Shabaneh and Ms. Afaf Suleiman. A follow up meeting has been granted and will be scheduled in the near future.

The delegation also visited the offices of Arab American Institute, AAI,  and the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee , ADC, and held informal talks with  AAI's George Selim, National Outreach Coordinator and the Honorable Congresswoman Mary Rose Oakar, President of ADC. The delegation briefed AAI and ADC on their visit to  the  State Department and asked for help in distributing the 100,000 post cards which PAC has printed for mailing to the United States President urging him to require  Israel to tear down the Wall. The delegation commended both AAI and ADC for their support of Palestinians issues and positions, and called for greater collaboration amongst the several Arab American organizations to effect America domestic and foreign polices. End

Contact: Aref Assaf 973-981-4104 allari58@yahoo.com

The Palestinian American Congress, PAC,  is a non-partisan non-sectarian and not-for-profit United States organization.  PAC adheres to the principles that the Palestinian People constitute an indivisible national unit, that Palestine, an integral part of the Arab Nation, is its national homeland. The Palestinian American Congress affirms its support of the Palestinian people's struggle to realize its national rights including its right of return to, national self-determination, and to its national independence and sovereignty with Jerusalem as its Capital in accordance with the United Nations Charter and Resolutions.  http://www.pac-national.org/