Groups protest P.A. boycott letter

Some Jewish and Christian groups protested a “Dear Colleague” letter urging a continued boycott of the Palestinian Authority. Brit Tzedek V’Shalom, Americans for Peace Now and Churches for Middle East Peace protested the letter, which is being circulated for signature among U.S. senators by Sens. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and John Ensign (R-Nev.), and will be sent to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The Nelson-Ensign letter urges Rice to maintain a boycott of the P.A. government until it meets international preconditions of renouncing terrorism, accepting past peace agreements with Israel and recognizing the Jewish state. The dovish groups argued that the U.S. government have contact with moderate individuals within the Palestinian Authority, regardless of P.A. policy, or risk strengthening the extremist elements. The groups urged activists to contact lawmakers and ask them not to sign the Nelson-Ensign letter, which AIPAC lobbyists are expected to promote heavily in Washington on Tuesday in conjunction with the group’s annual policy forum.