Arab Americans Across U.S. take Part in National Lobby Day Today

Call for strenghtening of ceasefire in Middle East, Expansion of Humanitarian Aid

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Aug. 16, 2006 – In response to the crisis in the Middle East, Arab Americans across the U.S are meeting today with their members of Congress in their home districts as part of National Arab American Lobby Day.

Members of the community are pressing their representatives to expand US assistance efforts to Lebanon and Palestine and assemble a donor conference in which the rebuilding of Lebanon will be discussed and planned. Additionally, Arab Americans are pushing for continued involvement by the Administration as a means by which to strengthen the fragile ceasefire that has taken hold in Lebanon and Israel while pushing for similar action between Israel and Palestine.

Among the specific points Arab Americans are making:

•    The United States must engage as an honest and fair mediator with all parties in the region to secure a lasting, comprehensive peace.

•    The United States must remain committed to the ceasefire and should send an envoy to Lebanon to set conditions for national reconciliation and a comprehensive peace.

•  As civilians rebuild their lives, the international community must quickly develop a robust reconstruction effort which reaches all portions of Lebanese territory.

•  The United States should play a leading role at an international donor’s conference with participation by the European Union and major Arab donors. 

•  The United States must reassert its commitment to a negotiated settlement resulting in two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. 

•  The United States must take bold steps for peace and pursue a foreign policy which projects American values abroad. 

Organized by the Arab American Institute (AAI), a Washington, D.C.-based political empowerment and advocacy group, National Arab American Lobby Day represents a concerted effort by grassroots activists to meet with their representatives.

“It’s critical that Arab Americans make their voices heard on the important issues of the day, and few are more critical today than the ongoing crisis in the Middle East,” said AAI Executive Director Nidal Ibrahim. “National Arab American Lobby Day represents an opportunity for us as a community to act in a unified voice. Our country has an obligation to lead in the Middle East, and we have an obligation to share with our elected leaders our experiences and beliefs as Arab Americans.”

Founded in 1985, the Arab American Institute (AAI) is a nonprofit organization committed to the civic and political empowerment of Americans of Arab descent.  AAI provides policy, research and public affairs services to support a broad range of community activities.

  Founded in 1985, the Arab American Institute (AAI) is a nonprofit organization committed to the civic and political empowerment of Americans of Arab descent.  AAI provides policy, research and public affairs services to support a broad range of community activities. For more information on AAI, please visit http://www.aaiusa.org