Evangelical Letter to President Bush

30 July 2007

On July 27, thirty-four prominent evangelical leaders sent a letter to President Bush applauding his recent speech and efforts to reinvigorate the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and correcting widespread views that evangelicals are opposed to a two-state solution. On Sunday, July 29, The New York Times ran a story on this important evangelical initiative.

This letter corrects the widespread notion both in the Muslim world and among some American policy makers that most American evangelicals oppose a two-state solution and the creation of a viable Palestinian state. “Nothing could be further from the truth,” these evangelical leaders insist.

The letter points out that “loving people (including Jews and the present State of Israel) does not mean withholding criticism when it is warranted.” And the letter calls on President Bush to provide robust leadership pushing both Israelis and Palestinians to make the necessary compromises for a just, permanent peaceful solution.

The letter was initiated by four of its signers—Joel Hunter, Bob Roberts, Chris Seiple, and Ron Sider—at the U.S. Islamic World Forum in Doha, Qatar.

For further information, contact:

Ron Sider
215-843-9269;
610-645-9354;
215-837-3030 (CP)

Last updated 29 January 2009