Open Letter to President Obama and the U.S. Congress

The threat of war now has been extended into Spring 2013. Iran has attacked no one, yet both the United States and Israel continue to threaten Iran with a military attack unless Iran agrees to halt uranium enrichment.  Whether or not one agrees with Iran’s interpretation of its rights under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, this is a matter to be resolved by diplomacy, not war.  Unilateral threat or use of military force against Iran, including covert force, would be a violation of International Law and of the U.N. Charter. We want no part of another illegal war in the Middle East. We have stopped madness for the moment, but the threats remain on the table. Instead of war, the United Nations is offering a logical solution to the crisis: establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction.*
 
For thirty years, the United Nations has called for a Nuclear Weapons Free Zone in the Middle East. The 2010 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference unanimously called for an international conference to begin discussing a zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. The proposed Conference is scheduled for mid- December, 2012, in Helsinki, Finland.  
 
The importance of the attendance and diplomatic participation of the United States and Israel in this Conference is crucial and cannot be overstated. It could prove to be a venue for a regional security dialogue. The United States’ lack of visibility in promoting this conference is unacceptable and a cause of deep concern. What alternative is there towards securing a peaceful Middle East if not through the doors of diplomacy? The roles that Israel and the U.S. play are pivotal in establishing security policies of all Middle Eastern countries. The Helsinki Conference provides an opportunity for a Middle East without nuclear weapons. It can lead to further discussions for securing a lasting peace in the Middle East.

* Secretary-General recommits to UN-backed meeting on nuclear-free Middle East in December