Dear Colleague,
As you are probably aware, Israel this week began a military
operation in Gaza, in response to ongoing Hamas rocket fire. The latest
round of rocket fire began June 12th, the day that three Israeli
teenagers were abducted and murdered. The Hamas shooting escalated
significantly June 30th, even before the bodies of the teens were found
and before the murder of a Palestinian youth, which was condemned
sharply by the entire Israeli leadership, and whose murderers are
already held in custody.
Over the past three weeks, the Hamas terror organization has
escalated its attack on Israeli civilians, launching nearly 300 rockets
at our cities – including Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and other major
metropolitan areas -- putting millions of Israeli lives at risk.
Families have been forced into shelters, summer camps for children
closed, and all normal daily activities have been impacted. This is
unacceptable.
Israel had shown great restraint prior to this operation. Our
intention was to restore the calm without a major military operation.
However, Israel's repeated efforts to achieve calm were met with
increased rocket fire by what is becoming a Hamas terrorist state.
Therefore, Israel launched an operation of self-defense, "Protective
Edge," on July 7th, to counter these attacks, to defend our citizens,
and secure for them a life without constant threat. Although we are not
interested in escalation, we will do whatever is necessary to defend our
citizens.
Hamas is a recognized terror organization, motivated by the most
radical ideology, including a charter that calls for the murder of all
Jews. Hamas is responsible for 80 suicide bombers that have killed
nearly 1000 Israeli civilians. Hamas has been labeled a terrorist
organization by the United States, the European Union, Canada, Great
Britain, Australia, Japan and Egypt. This group seeks to establish an
Islamist state characterized by human rights violations, violent
repression of minorities, women, and non-Muslims.
By deploying weapons and command centers in densely populated areas
and operating from residential areas, thus turning Palestinian
civilians into human shields, while deliberately targeting Israeli
civilians, Hamas has been committing war crimes for over a decade. Hamas
terrorists launch rockets indiscriminately at civilians from civilian
areas, and hide in civilian infrastructures including mosques, schools
and hospitals. Hamas, therefore, bears full responsibility for any harm
that comes to Israeli and Palestinian civilians alike.
Israel is operating with utmost care to avoid civilian casualties.
We are focusing on targeting Hamas and other terrorist organizations,
their operatives and infrastructure. Israel is giving repeated warnings
to civilians to vacate areas they are about to target, using pinpoint
technologies to hit only the targeted infrastructure.
May I remind you that Israel left the Gaza Strip completely in the
August 2005 Disengagement. Since then, there has been no Israeli
presence, civilian or military, in the Gaza Strip.
It is clear that the Palestinian government must dissolve
immediately its partnership with Hamas. Furthermore, it is important
that world leaders condemn the ongoing rocket fire by Hamas and other
terror groups towards Israeli population centers, and take action to
dismantle the Hamas terrorist infrastructure. Finally, the international
community should continue to demonstrate understanding for Israel to
exercise its legitimate right to self-defense.
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.
Avigdor Liberman
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