To: Rep. Elijah Cummings (MD-7)

.@RepCummings: Affirm U.S. Opposition to Settlement Expansion

Join with Democrats in opposition to settlement expansion in the West Bank.

Why is this important?

Maryland Democrat Elijah Cummings, chair of the Democratic Platform Committee, says an agreement on the platform language between the Clinton and Sanders forces could happen within days. [1] One of the issues that has been in dispute is what the Democratic Platform will say about Palestinian rights and the occupation of the West Bank, especially about settlement expansion in the West Bank.

The other three House Democrats on the Platform Committee - Keith Ellison, Barbara Lee, and Luis Gutierrez - all signed Rep. Betty McCollum's letter asking that the U.S. speak up for the rights of Palestinian kids in military detention. [2] The other three House Democrats on the Platform Committee have also all co-sponsored [3] HR 686, which calls for affirming U.S. opposition to settlement expansion in the West Bank. [4] But Rep. Cummings didn't sign McCollum's letter, and so far he hasn't agreed to co-sponsor HR 686. That's reason for concern about where he stands on opposing settlement expansion.

Urge Rep. Cummings to affirm U.S. opposition to settlement expansion by signing our petition.

References:
1. http://thehill.com/homenews/house/284551-clinton-vows-to-work-closely-with-democrats
2. http://mccollum.house.gov/press-release/mccollum-leads-20-members-congress-urging-president-obama-create-special-envoy
3. https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-resolution/686/cosponsors
4. https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-resolution/686/text