Mideast situation/Rocket attacks from Gaza – Letter from Israel

Identical letters dated 9 January 2014 from the Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council 

 Earlier today, the morning calm in southern Israel was shattered by three mortar shells fired from the Gaza Strip. This unprovoked attack by Palestinian terrorists was aimed at troops of the Israel Defense Forces on a routine patrol inside Israel. 

 Israel holds Hamas responsible for this attack. Hamas is a dangerous terrorist organization committed to the destruction of Israel. For years, it has held the Palestinian population hostage and used Gaza as a launching pad to target Israeli civilians and soldiers.

 Israel has thus far shown considerable restraint, but it will not allow its citizens to be the victims of ongoing attacks and will continue to take all measures necessary to protect its population.

 The only thing more deafening than the explosions of mortars fired from Gaza is the international community’s silence. I urge this Council to condemn these attacks, loudly and clearly, before the situation escalates further. 

 I should be grateful if you would have the present letter distributed as a document of the Security Council.

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