Subject: American Committee on Jerusalem News Release/Action Alert
Date: Thu, 19 Aug 1999 11:12:51 -0400


AMERICAN COMMITTEE ON JERUSALEM
AMERICAN MUSLIMS FOR JERUSALEM
NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
Contact: Raafat Dajani
August 18,1999
(202) 237-0215

ACJ AND AMJ FORM COALITION PROTESTING "JERUSALEM, CAPITAL OF ISRAEL" DISNEY
EXHIBIT

WASHINGTON, DC  -- The American Committee on Jerusalem (ACJ) and American
Muslims for Jerusalem (AMJ), have formed a coalition of 14 Arab-American and
Muslim-American organizations, protesting the "Jerusalem, Capital of Israel"
theme of the upcoming Israeli exhibit at Disney World’s Epcot Center. The
Israeli government has funded the exhibit, due to open September 30, to the
tune of $1.8 million.

The ACJ/AMJ coalition is composed of the American Arab Anti Discrimination
Committee, the Arab American Institute, the Association of Arab American
University Graduates, the American Muslim Alliance, the American Muslim
Council, the Council on American Islamic Relations, the Islamic Circle of
North America, the Islamic Society of North America, the Jerusalem Fund, the
Ministry of W.D. Muhammad, the Muslim Public Affairs Council and the
National Association of Arab Americans.

The coalition has sent Disney letters protesting the theme of the exhibit,
but Disney has yet to respond to these concerns except through a public
statement denying that the exhibit is political while refusing to provide
details on whether there is any reference to Jerusalem as the capital of
Israel. The ACJ and AMJ hope to hear a positive response from Disney soon on
resolving this matter, while pledging to keep up the pressure on Disney
through the coalition and supporters nationwide. "Our  hope is that we are
able to resolve this issue by working together with Disney to ensure that
the exhibit is strictly educational, instead of the political theme of the
exhibit condoning the illegal occupation of East Jerusalem being presented
as a fait accompli," ACJ Chairman Dr. Ziad Asali explained.

According to 11 United Nations Security Council resolutions, the Vatican,
the European Union and the United States government, under international law
East Jerusalem is occupied territory acquired by Israel through force of
arms in 1967.
_________________________________________________________________________
(ACJ is a non-profit organization representing major Arab-American
organizations dedicated to promoting a solution to Jerusalem which addresses
the attachments of the three faiths and the political aspirations of both
peoples, Palestinian and Israeli. AMJ is a non-profit organization formed by
major American Muslim organizations to strengthen the community’s voice in
the formation of US policy towards Jerusalem and its environs.)


ACTION ALERT!!!: Please continue to write and fax the individuals below
protesting the theme of the exhibit and insisting on a response from Disney.

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
Fax: 407-828-5887


____________________________________________________________________
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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