WASHINGTON – In a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sent on Friday, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) urged the Administration to ensure that diplomatic efforts during the ongoing political transition in Egypt include an emphasis on its international obligation to maintain peace with Israel, as agreed to in the Camp David Accords more than three decades ago. 

The letter, which was also signed by U.S. Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA) and U.S. Senator Carl Levin (D-MI), said, “it is imperative that Egypt maintains its historic commitment to peace with Israel, as agreed to in the Camp David Accords, and that the Egyptian military and security forces ensure security on the border with Gaza.”

Senator Coons is a member of the Committee on Foreign Relations. Senator Casey is chairman of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs. Senator Levin is chairman of the Committee on Armed Services.

A scanned copy of the letter is attached. The text of the letter is pasted below.

February 4, 2011

Dear Secretary Clinton:

We are writing to express our concern about the political crisis in Egypt.  We appreciate the administration's efforts to navigate this dynamic period and support the democratic and peaceful aspirations of the Egyptian people.  We are particularly concerned about the recent surge of violence, and support the administration’s concerted effort to encourage a political outcome to the crisis resulting in sustainable reform.

With new freedoms, come new responsibilities for the future leaders and Government of Egypt.  During this period of transition, we believe that the U.S. should send a strong message to key Egyptian leaders and members of the opposition, including the Muslim Brotherhood, that Egypt's international obligations must be respected during a political transition and beyond.  

Specifically, it is imperative that Egypt maintains its historic commitment to peace with Israel, as agreed to in the Camp David Accords, and that the Egyptian military and security forces ensure security on the border with Gaza.  It is our sincere hope that all conversations with Egyptian officials and opposition leaders express the fact that Egypt’s peace with Israel is a vital U.S. and regional security interest.  We urge that this message is conveyed as a central theme in all U.S. interactions with opposition figures, both public and private. 

At this critical juncture, we believe the legitimate grievances of the Egyptian people must be addressed.  This includes the right to free expression and access to information, and we strongly support the administration’s calls on the Egyptian government to lift ongoing restrictions on Internet access, as well as cell phones and other means of communication.

Thank you for your efforts to support a peaceful transition in Egypt.  We look forward to continuing a dialogue on encouraging political reform at this historic moment in the Middle East.

Sincerely,

Senator Casey, Senator Levin, Senator Coons

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