| PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION Palestine National Authority The President |
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To: Rabbi Moshe Hirsch
Minister for Jewish Affairs
Palestine Authority, Jerusalem
Dear Rabbi Hirsch: Further to our recent telephone discussion, on behalf of myself, the Palestinian Authority and the people of Palestine I wish to express my deepest thanks to you and all the many Ultra-Orthodox Jews worldwide, and to many Jews who supported us both laymen and rabbis, for their expressions and demonstrations of heartfelt sympathy for the ongoing suffering of the Palestinian people in Palestine at the hands of the Israeli government. No words can express how it makes us feel to know your community has spoken up throughout the world on our behalf.
These expressions are priceless examples of the long-standing and abiding relationship between Jews and Arabs reaching back hundreds of years, and enable the entire world to see the stark contrast between the eternal and beautiful values of Judaism and those embodied in aggressive Zionism. These demonstrations and expressions are of critical importance in enabling the Palestinian people and Arabs worldwide to see this crucial difference so that everyone understands that the actions of the Israeli state do not reflect anything rooted in the traditions, beliefs and laws of Judaism. This is vital in emphasizing that there is no conflict between Jew and Arab.
Again, Rabbi Hirsch, please transmit our best wishes and prayers for true peace and harmony to your entire community worldwide.
Ramallah in: April 23, 2002
Yours truly,
Palestine Chairman of the of the PLO
President of the Palestinian Authority
http://www.nkusa.org/Historical_Documents/ArafatLetter.htm
Source: The Independent
Disaster looms for Israel, say ex-security chiefs
By Justin Huggler in Jerusalem
15 November 2003
Four former chiefs of Israel's Shin Bet security service launched an extraordinary attack on Ariel Sharon yesterday, saying his policies were catastrophic and endangered Israel's future as a Jewish state.
The four men gave a joint interview to the mass circulation daily Yedioth Ahronoth, in which they called for Israel to withdraw from the occupied territories and evacuate Jewish settlements there.
Ami Ayalon, the Shin Bet director from 1996 to 2000, said: "We are taking very sure and measured steps to a point where the state of Israel will not be a democracy or a home for the Jewish people."
Yaakov Peri, the director of Shin Bet from 1988 to 1995, supported him, saying: "From whatever aspect you look at it we are going in the direction of decline, nearly a catastrophe.If something doesn't happen here, we will continue to live by the sword, we will continue to wallow in the mud and we will continue to destroy ourselves."
The attack by the four Shin Bet menfollows a similar outburst from the current chief of staff of the Israeli army, General Moshe Ya'alon, who said the current policy of strict closures on Palestinian cities was increasing Palestinian resentment of Israel.
The criticism from the Shin Bet directors who included Avraham Shalom, director from 1980 to 1986, and Carmi Gillon, director from 1995 to 1996 went deeper, and it is all the more damaging because it comes from former chiefs of a service linked to assassinations, closures and roadblocks.
Mr Gillon said: "If we continue our conflict with the Palestinians, this country will go from bad to worse."
Mr Shalom said: "All the steps that we have taken are steps that are contrary to the aspiration for peace. If we do not turn away from this path, of adhering to the entire land of Israel, and if we do not also begin to understand the other side we will not get anywhere. We must admit that there is another side, that it has feelings and that it is suffering, and that we are behaving disgracefully."
Asked about ideological settlers who would oppose a withdrawal from the occupied territories, Mr Ayalon said: "At issue are 15 per cent or even 10 per cent of the settlers, and we have to be capable of facing such a number."
The men condemned Mr Sharon for making progress on the American-backed road- map peace plan dependent on the Palestinian Authority suppressing militant groups. "It is an excuse for doing nothing," Mr Shalom said.
The men accused Mr Sharon of a strategic mistake in refusing to deal with Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian President. "We will not determine who is relevant and who isn't," said Mr Shalom. "Nothing can happen without Arafat."
