Mideast situation/Netanya attack – Letter from Israel

Identical letters dated 5 December 2005 from the Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations addressed to the  Secretary-General and the President of  the Security Council

  I am writing to draw your urgent attention to yet another horrific terrorist attack perpetuated against Israel.

  At least five people were murdered and more than 55 wounded when a 21-year old Palestinian terrorist associated with the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization detonated himself, at 11.30 a.m. this morning, in a crowded area outside of the Hasharon shopping mall in the city of Netanya.

  Security personnel identified the bomber prior to the attack and prevented him from entering the mall and creating greater devastation. This is the second terrorist attack that the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization has perpetrated at this shopping mall in the last six months.

  These heinous terrorist attacks are unacceptable for any two peoples in the pursuit of peace. Israel is dedicated to advancing the peace process, as demonstrated by our disengagement from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank, as well as the Rafah border crossing agreement. Yet, we have not seen any similar commitment from the Palestinian leadership. Netanya illustrates that mere condemnations are not enough. The Palestinian Authority must show its resolve through action, not words.

  The first phase in the Road Map calls for the dismantling of terrorist organizations and elimination of the terrorist infrastructure. Thus far, the Palestinian Authority has displayed passivity vis-à-vis terrorist organizations. It has failed to reign in these groups, despite its international obligations. It has failed to take any effective strategy to combat terrorism. These horrific attacks remain the largest obstacle to peace. The onus now lies on the Palestinians to act. They have the capability. Yet they must show the resolve.

  Furthermore, Member States in the region continue to finance and host Islamic Jihad and other terrorist organizations in their territories. This conduct contradicts international law and severely endangers the stability of the region.

  Excellency, Israel urges the international community to reaffirm, in clear and certain terms, its absolute intolerance of terrorism and the aiding and/or sheltering of terrorist organizations. Israel also urges the international community to require the Palestinian Authority to immediately combat Palestinian terrorism and fulfil its international obligations.

  I should be grateful if you would arrange to have the text of the present letter circulated as a document of the sixtieth session of the General Assembly, under agenda items 14 and 108.

(Signed) Dan Gillerman 

Ambassador

Permanent Representative

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