|
We, Israeli patriots concerned about the future of our state,
hereby call upon you, the leaders of the European Union and the
heads of European governments:
Stop the blockade on the Palestinian government!
Don't starve a whole people in order to overthrow its elected
government!
Only three months ago, European monitors supervised the
Palestinian elections. They confirmed Palestine as the first
democracy in the Arab world (holding its second democratic
elections, the first having been won by the Fatah movement.)
This time, a Parliament with a Hamas majority was elected. Now
you are giving the Palestinians a lesson in democracy: you are
telling them that, unless they overthrow the government they have
just elected, there will be no milk for their children, no
medicines for their sick, no work for their unemployed, no
salaries for their doctors and teachers.
You are fulfilling the cynical prescription of the advisor to our
Prime Minister: "We need to make them lose weight, but not to
die."
This is not only a barbaric policy, it is also a terrible
mistake: no people in the world would submit to such brutal and
humiliating pressure from outside. The inevitable result will be
a further radicalization of Palestinian opinion, and a deepening
of the hatred for Israel and the West in the whole of the Arab
and Muslim world.
That will make the prospect of peace even remoter, the peace we
all need like air to breathe. It will lead to a bloodbath, which
will cost the lives of thousands - Israelis, Palestinians,
Europeans and Americans.
Talk to the Palestinian government!
Start a dialogue with Hamas!
Certainly, they must recognize the State of Israel's right to
exist, just as Israel must recognize the right of the State of
Palestine to exist. But such recognition will grow out of
negotiations, not the other way round.
Certainly, they have to stop violence, just as Israel must do so.
But even at this stage a prolonged armistice can be achieved.
Certainly, they must accept the Two-State solution, and so must
Israel. But their leaders have already hinted that they are ready
for it - and this must be put to the test of negotiations.
We call upon you, leaders of Europe:
It is in the interest of Europe, as it is in the interest of
Israel and Palestine, to achieve peace. Don't succumb to pressure
from outside interests, whose policy has already led to several
recent disasters in the Middle East.
For the sake of all of us: follow an independent line, guided by
wisdom and morality!
GUSH SHALOM
More Press Releases
|
