WASHINGTON, March 16 (IslamOnline) – American Muslim leaders gathered Friday at the National Press Club to call for an increased U.S. role to ending the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands to end  Israeli aggression against the Palestinians and Indian aggression and “religious intolerance” towards Muslims. 

The leaders of the national American Muslim organizations called on all people of conscience – of all faiths – to call upon the U.S. government and the international community to “put real pressure” on Israel to end its illegal occupation of Palestinian lands and to comply with international law as outlined by U.N. Security Council resolutions 242 and 338 – which demand that Israel withdraw from all Palestinian lands occupied after 1967. 

They also criticized the U.S. for militarily, economically and politically supporting Israel’s military occupation, which “has entered a shockingly new level of ferocity and indifference to the fundamental human rights of the civilian populations of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.” 

Raeed Tayeh, outreach coordinator of American Muslims for Global Peace and Justice (AMPJ), went on to state that American Muslims welcome the U.S. President George W. Bush’s criticism of Israel’s most recent invasions but that the U.S. can do more to end Israeli aggression. 

“As its [Israel’s] closest ally, and greatest financial supporter, Israel can be reigned in by our [U.S.] government, and its [Israel’s] increasingly horrific destruction of life and property can be subsided if the Bush Administration recognizes that the problem is not as complicated as many perceive. It is Israeli military occupation and its brutal policies towards the Palestinians that is at the heart of this conflict.” 

The group of leaders also called upon an immediate end to the use of American supplied weapons by Israel for killing Palestinian civilians, which is a direct violation of the Arms control Export Act of 1976. 

They also declared March 15, 2002 a “Day of Solidarity with the Palestinians” and relayed that there has been a national call for community rallies and prayers and that there is a tentative national rally scheduled  in Washington D.C. on April 22, when Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is expected to return for his fifth meeting with President Bush. 

Khalid Turaani, executive director of American Muslims for Jerusalem (AMJ) addressed the fact that Palestinian President Yasser Arafat has yet to be invited to meet with President Bush and is being ignored by U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney – currently visiting the Middle East and steering far clear of Ramallah, where Arafat has been confined by Israel for over three months. 

“If this Administration is going to act in a serious manner, it must act in a more balanced way or we may never see peace and stability in the region.” 

Jason Erb, director of government relations for the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) echoed Turaani’s sentiment, saying, “violence can only end with an increased U.S. role.” 

Hazim Bitar, media director of American Muslims for AMGPJ, issued the group’s joint statement on the violence in India with over 700 Indians, mostly Muslims, were killed in the past 2 weeks. Violence broke out over an initiative to build a Hindu temple over the remains of the 16^th Century Babri mosque destroyed by Hindu extremists. 

“We mourn the tragic loss of innocent life, both Hindu and Muslim. [But] we are encouraged by the considerable presence of security forces to maintain the peace in Ayodhya,” Bitar stated. 

“The unity and stability of a vast and diverse country such as India depend largely on the promotion of tolerance and centrists’ policies,” Bitar continued. 

Suhail Ghanouchi, president of the Muslim American Society (MAS), also called for peace in India, saying that the wave of mass killings, spurred on by “religious intolerance” needs to end in India. 

Ray Busch, director of government relations for the American Muslim Council (AMC) and Mahdi Bray, political relations director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), told IslamOnline that a proactive community effort, was needed. A strong lobbying and media relations campaign on behalf of the American Muslim community is the only way to bring about a change in U.S. foreign and domestic policy. 

They also addressed organizing systematic national lobby days. This would mobilize American Muslims nationwide lobby to their congressional representatives and provide U.S. policy makers with information regarding the Palestinian and Kashmiri conflicts as well as the persecution of Muslims worldwide and domestically.