trans-israel highway

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PLease bring this to the attention of folks who you think might be interested



Educators for Sustainable Prosperity in the Middle East


We are writers, scientists, and educators who  wish to express our profound
concern with the Trans-Israel highway that is slated  to stretch  from  the
southern tip of Israel to the Galilee in the north, spanning eight lanes in
each direction. It is a project predicated on a model of development that
cannot sustain peace or prosperity. We are  distressed by the cavalier
treatment the Israeli government has shown toward the process of measuring
the potential environmental impact such a vast project would have on
fragile desert ecosystems. With the abundance of evidence that increased
automotive traffic has immense and deleterious social, health, and
ecological consequences, we hope that the Israeli government shows greater
prudence, channeling its resources  and creative energies towards
alternative means of transporting goods and peoples. Israel's current
highway policy literally paves the way to air pollution levels found in
Mexico City and other uninhabitable areas.  We call on persons of all
faiths and beliefs to respond to the new challenges posed by peace  and to
permit the land of milk and honey to evolve so sustenance, habitat,
knowledge, beauty, and freedom can thrive.

The Israeli Supreme Court will be holding a final hearing on this proposed
highway on June 12, 1995. Regardless of the results of the Supreme Court
petition, we call on the  U.S. to withdraw all loan guarantees on funds
which are designated to  support an environmentally irresponsible highway.

If you would like to have your name included on this statement, please send
a fax to Leah Sand at 503-686-2256 or call Dr. Irene Diamond at
503-484-1665. (email address: [EMAIL PROTECTED]). We intend to
place an ad  in the Washington Post and Ha'aretz within the next week
which will include all signatories  to this statement. If you would like to
help in this effort please send donations to
E.S. P.
2826 Baker Blvd.
 Eugene, OR 97403