20, June 2002 RE: Israeli Atrocities
Dear Prime Minister Sharon,
I am writing out of profound concern over the appalling loss of life in the Middle East. As a longtime member of Amnesty International, the world-wide human rights organization, I am outraged over the human rights violations committed against the Palestinians in response to the morally repugnant actions of the suicide bombers. It is morally indefensible to wage a war against the civilian population of Palestine for the misguided actions of a few. It is tragic that the Jewish people, who have been victimized for centuries, should now become the oppressors and deny the aspirations of the Palestinians for their own homeland.
Your armed forces have unleashed a reign of terror on the Palestinians and have resulted in deepening the hostility and diminished the hopes for a just peace. Your forces have demolished the Palestinian infrastructure, disrupted food and medical supplies, the airport, destroyed television stations, bulldozed homes often killing the occupants. A disproportionate number of Palestinians have been killed with US taxpayer supplied tanks and helicopter gunships. On many occasions Israeli forces refused to allow wounded Palestinians to be removed to hospitals. It is this callous disregard for human life that has earned Israel, and its backer, the United States, opprobrium in many parts of the world. You have violated your election pledge to halt further illegal settlements by orchestrating the construction of 34 new settlements.
The conscience of your own reservists has been stirred and many have refused to serve in the West Bank and Gaza Strip because your policies 'contributed to dominating, starving and humiliating an entire people'.
Your refusal to allow human rights groups and UN officials into Jenin has exposed your callous disregard for truth and fairness. The massacre of innocent civilians and attempts at a cover-up has outraged many of your former friends and allies.
I ask that call an immediate halt to these devastating acts of violence your forces have unleashed on the Palestinians.
I am writing a similar letter calling on the Palestinian Authority asking them to halt these cruel, senseless suicides attacks that have resulted in so much loss of life.
Prime Minister Sharon Office of the Prime Minister 3 Kaplan Street Hakirya, Jerusalem 91007 Israel
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