Subject: ACJ Letter of Protest to Disney
Date: Thu, 12 Aug 1999 17:51:03 -0400


The following is the letter that ACJ sent to Disney Chairman Mr. Michael
Eisner and Disney President Mr. Al Weiss protesting the "Jerusalem, Capital
of Israel" theme of the Israeli exhibition at the Disney World Millennium
Exhibition due to open September 30th.

Please write Mr. Eisner and Mr. Weiss protesting the theme of the exhibition
at the following addresses, and drawing on the points made in the letter.

Mr. Michael Eisner
Chairman of the Board
Walt Disney World Corp.
500 S. Buena Vista St.
Burbank, CA 91521

Mr. Al Weiss
President
Walt Disney World Corp.
PO Box 10000
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830


Mr. Michael Eisner
Chairman of the Board
Walt Disney World Corporation
500 S. Lake Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521

August 12, 1999

Dear Mr.Eisner:

On behalf of the board of directors of the American Committee on Jerusalem
(ACJ), and the coalition of Arab-American organizations it represents, I
would like to express my dismay and shock that Walt Disney World Corporation
is allowing the planned opening of  the Israeli exhibit at Epcot Center to
be
themed "Jerusalem, Capital of Israel." The ACJ is an organization dedicated
to promoting a solution to Jerusalem which addresses the attachments of the
three faiths, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and the political aspirations
of both peoples, Palestinian and Israeli.

The issue is basically one of allowing Israel to decide for itself that all
of Jerusalem is its capital, when such a decision flies in the face of
international law and the consensus of the international community on the
status of the city. Israel occupied East Jerusalem in 1967 through force of
arms and subsequently annexed it in 1980 declaring all of Jerusalem, East
and
West, to be its  capital. During the same time period, the United Nations
Security Council passed no less than 11 resolutions affirming that East
Jerusalem is occupied territory and calling for the withdrawal of Israel
from
this territory. Security Council Resolution 478 was passed in 1980
specifically in response to Israel’s unilateral declaration that all of
Jerusalem is its capital, declaring this action "null and void."

The United Nations has also declared Israel’s occupation of Jerusalem to be
a
violation of international law, specifically the Fourth Geneva Convention,
of
which Israel is a signatory. The Convention prohibits an occupying power
from
transferring its civilian population into occupied territory or changing the
physical nature of this territory in any way. Since 1967 Israel has moved
over 180,000 Israeli settlers into East Jerusalem and has built more than 13
major settlements in this occupied territory.

It is not only the United Nations that has taken an unambiguous and firm
stand on this issue. The Vatican, the European Union, a majority of the US
Christian leadership, the United States government and the international
community all consider that under international law East Jerusalem is
occupied. Virtually every nation in the world maintains its embassy in Tel
Aviv and not in Jerusalem in accordance with this international consensus on
the status of the city.

In East Jerusalem itself, and according to both Israeli and international
human rights groups, the indigenous Christian and Muslim Palestinian
population which has lived in the city for hundreds of years, is subject to
policies of discrimination and injustice. These policies, all documented and
reported by the international press, include home demolitions, ID card
confiscations, restrictions on movement, and the supply of pitifully
inadequate social services. The international laws being violated by Israel
in Jerusalem are specifically designed to protect the basic individual and
group human rights of defenseless civilians living under military
occupation.

The ACJ respects and recognizes the centrality of Jerusalem spiritually to
the Jewish faith as it does to the other two great religions of the world,
Christianity and Islam. This is what makes Jerusalem unique and different
from any other city. It is unfortunately also a city, part of which is under
occupation. Allowing the theme of the Israeli exhibit to be ‘Jerusalem,
Capital of Israel’ condones this occupation and the conditions of injustice
and discrimination the Palestinian population live under.

Mr. Eisner, Disney World has long been recognized as providing world-class
educational, cultural and entertainment value. By taking sides in what is
strictly a political issue, Disney is now legitimizing the flouting of
international law and the acquisition of territory through force. Such a
position is not compatible with Disney’s mission and image, which is based
on
a commitment to decency and fairness.

Israel, as a sovereign nation like any other, has the full right to feature
an exhibit in which it has much to offer. What we do seek is that Disney
World not allow itself to be drawn into a political debate that has serious
international ramifications by allowing Israel to theme and place its
exhibit
at the center of violations of  international law and UN resolutions.

We therefore ask that Disney World insist that Israel change the theme of
its
exhibition  immediately and prior to the opening of the Millennium
Exhibition
on September 30. In addition, the content of the exhibit must not either
link
East Jerusalem politically with Israel in any fashion nor imply support for
or condoning of these violations of human rights. We hope to hear an answer
from you soon on this urgent matter. We are also happy to meet with Disney
representatives to further discuss this issue, either in Florida or
California.

Sincerely,


Dr. Ziad K. Asali
Chairman

cc: Al Weiss
      President
      Walt Disney World Corporation
____________________________________________________________________
The American Committee on Jerusalem (ACJ) is an American non-profit
organization dedicated to providing the American public and policy-makers
with a balanced view-point on the critical issues of Jerusalem. Its
objective is the promotion of educational activities and materials focused
on Jerusalem, its heritage, and its future. Most of the information
currently available to the public emphasizes Israeli and Jewish claims to
the city, to the exclusion of equally valid, legitimate and historical
connections of Palestinians, Muslims and Christians.

The American Committee on Jerusalem
4201 Connecticut Ave., Suite 404, Washington DC 20008
Tel:(202)237-0215 / Fax(202)244-3196 / e-mail: acj-AT-acj.org
Visit our web-site at: http://www.acj.org
_____________________________________________________________________




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