The Associated Press reported that two United States Congressmen, Stephen Lynch(D,MA-09) and Bob Inglis (R,SC-04), visited the Gaza Strip on Tuesday. The two met with aid workers and toured scenes of destruction left by Israel's recent military actions during "Operation Cast Lead".
The Congressmen visited a project run by Catholic Relief Services in a heavily damaged neighborhood and a tent camp where displaced Gazans have been living since the war ended on January 18th. They also visited the grounds of the American International School of Gaza. This visit follows the recent visits to Gaza from Senator John Kerry (D,MA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Congressman Brian Baird (D,WA-03) and Congressman Keith Ellison (D,MN-05).
Congressman Stephen Lynch started his career as an Ironworker in Boston. After 18 years on the job, he was the youngest person elected President of The Iron Workers Union. During this time, he graduated from the Wentworth Institute of Technology and the Boston College Law School. Eventually, he earned a Master's Degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. In 1994, Mr. Lynch was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives and then, 14 months later, elected to the State Senate. In 2001, he entered the United States Congress representing Massachusetts' 9th District, which includes South Boston, Braintree, Brockton and parts of Dorchester.
In the 111th Congress, Rep. Lynch serves on the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and the Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs. He also is the co-chair of the Task Force on Terrorism and Proliferation Financing, which is a bipartisan Congressional panel that monitors the status of national and international efforts to track and stop the flow of funds to terrorist groups and works to strengthen U.S. anti-terrorist finance strategy.
Congressman Bob Inglis graduated from Duke University and the University of Virginia School of Law. From 1993-1998, he represented the 4th District of South Carolina, which includes Greenville, Spartanburg, Union and a portion of Laurens County. After an unsuccessful run agaist Fritz Hollings in 1998 and several years practicing corporate law, Mr. Inglis returned to Congress in 2005. During the 111th Congress, he serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Subcommitee on the Middle East and South Asia.
During the visit, Congressman Lynch stated that the destruction in Gaza was worse than he expected. According to the Congressman, the world must find a way to address a "legitimate humanitarian crisis" in Gaza. "We need to act with some urgency here. There is a humanitarian crisis going on and we can't dawdle."
Since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, Israel and Egypt have maintained tight control over the border crossings. Restriction on materials, which Israel claims could benefit Hamas, has hampered both the humanitarian and reconstuction efforts. Said Congressman Lynch, "It is problematic having the checkpoints closed". He felt that aid could be brought into Gaza through the United Nations and other organizations, and that safeguards could be put in place to make sure resources are used properly.
All of these Congressional Members are continuing to challenge those that seek to maintain the status-quo regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They are to be commended for visiting these conflict areas, meeting the civilians who have been victimized, and learning the realities about the situation. In order for these Representatives to continue to change the dynamic, they need our support. Please consider,
- Contacting their offices and offering your support for their strong actions. Their D.C. offices can be reached by way of the Toll-Free Captiol Switchboard, (877)762-8762 or (800)828-0498. Their local offices can be reached at this site, and their House or Senate e-mails can be obtained at these sites.
- Contacting Rep. Inglis' Office and ask him to join 100 Congressmembers in co-sponsoring HR 130, supporting the appointment of Senator George Mitchell as Special Envoy For Middle East Peace.
- Thanking Reps. Baird, Ellison, and Lynch for co-sponsoring HR 130 and signing the "Dear Colleague" letter to Secretary Clinton requesting humanitarian and reconstruction aid for the people of Gaza. Reps. Ellison and Baird are also to be commended for sponsoring the March 31st Congressional briefing on the humanitarian crisis by John Ging, Director of UNRWA's Gaza operation.
- Contacting J Street and asking them to include these candidates in their list of endorsed candidates.
- Donating to the campaigns for Democratic candidates who support peace and justice for Israeli and Palestinian peoples by visiting this ActBlue fundraising page.
Hat Tip: Philip Weiss of Mondoweiss
