hai Bond Bote har tt ar aie fa ‘et fr abc Arete em prac ei pe rsach etn eon te Uo ‘tetra onsen rio ae npn dl 19. =A ox ORTHODOX UNION ‘©: ae ELEVEN BROADWAY, NEW YORK, KY 10004 to! 212.613.8123 fax 212.613.0625 evil iptou June 2, 2009 President Barack Obama ‘The White House Washington, DC By Facsimile & Email Dear Mr. President, ‘We hope this letter finds you well. We witte to you with regard to your recent efforts to begin a new chapter in the journey toward peace in the Middle East. We appreciate your stated commitment to Israels security. We understand that itis your view that working fora "owvo state solution’ is a means of achieving that security But we are deeply troubled by your statements with regard to Israel’ policy on settlements, Mr. President, across a broad range of issues you have demonstrated your ability and leadership by acknowledging the complexity attendant to most challenges end proposing appropriately nuanced policies. Such 2 nuanced approach, however, is glaringly absent from current U.S. policy toward Israel's "settlements." To the contrary, this policy has, to date, reflected a blunderbuss, one-size-fits-all attitude toward everything from building a new hhouse on an empty lot in the midst ofthe city of Ma‘ale Adumim, to erecting new houses on ‘an empty hilltop in Samaria, The current simplistic end indiscriminate epproach is not only illogical, itis also counterproductive to your goals since it forces Israelis and their supporters into a defensive Posture, as opposed to one open to negotiations and creative solutions. Itis time, Mr. President, to inject constructive energy and momentum into the conversation by adjusting U.S. policy to recognize that the United States understands the policy implications and practical distinctions between, for example, major Jewish population centers (such as Jerusalem’ eastern neighborhoods, Metale Adumin, or Efrat) and other locations in Judea and Samaria, Members of Congress, among many others, recognize these distinctions and your Adninistration should as well We would welcome the opportunity o discuss this with you further. S.. AtQwy AS Savitsky BIy Rabbi Steven Weil ho LGLaF Mark Bane Sathan Diament