Letter
for Israeli Citizens
Dear Mr. Prime Minister, members of the opposition and U.S. officials,
I was saddened and shocked to learn that the Israeli government is continuing the
policy of demolishing Palestinian houses, despite the public outcry, despite the damage to
Israel's image, despite the damage to the last hopes for peace.
As an Israeli citizen, I must protest that you have made me, and others, unwilling
partners in a grossly inhumane policy. The most brazen act was the demolition of the
Shawamreh house, rebuilt by volunteers of different Israeli peace groups. Those who preach
national unity should consider the feelings of all citizens. Some people think it is a sin
to eat pork or to wear a suit of mixed materials. We believe it is a greater sin to leave
children homeless deliberately.
U.S. public officials should be aware that you have also made them unwilling - though
not unwitting - partners in this policy.
Everyone who writes to protest this policies gets the same banal letter about
demolition of 'illegal' construction - construction that is illegal of necessity, since
you have made it impossible for Palestinians to get building permits.
A constantly reiterated claim of 'our' government is that the PNA has violated the
provisions of the Oslo agreements. It is absurd to claim that this or that utterance of
Yasser Arafat, or this or that newspaper article is a worse violation of a peace accord
than destruction of property in this way. The PNA have no need to indoctrinate their
people in hate for Israel. The Israeli bulldozers are doing it for them.
Regretfully,
{Your Name and Signature Here}
cc/President William Jefferson Clinton
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
Undersecretary Shirley Adams,
United States Department of State,
{see addresses below] |
