Violations across the Blue Line – Letter from Israel

Letter dated 12 August 2003 from the Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

  I am writing to draw your attention to the latest acts of Palestinian terrorism perpetrated against the citizens of Israel.

  Early this morning, 12 August, Palestinian terrorists killed 2 Israelis and wounded 13 other people in two separate attacks. The first attack was in Rosh Ha’ayin, a Tel Aviv suburb, and the second attack was in the West Bank settlement of Ariel.

  This is the first terror attack to take place in Rosh Ha’ayin, which is just inside the Green Line. A homicide bomber activated an explosive device held in his backpack near the entrance to a pharmacy at approximately 9 a.m. He was able to enter the pharmacy, which is located in a small shopping centre, with the bomb despite the presence of a security guard at the centre. Yehezkiel Yekutieli, 43, was killed in the blast and 10 people were injured, 4 of them seriously. The explosion led to a fire, which burned down several surrounding stores in the centre.

  The second bombing took place at a bus stop on the road heading from the West Bank settlement of Ariel toward Tel Aviv. A homicide bomber set off the bomb he had strapped to his body when he saw several young Israelis at the bus stop. Erez Hershkovitz, 18, was killed in this attack, which wounded two others seriously.

  The Fatah’s al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade claimed responsibility for the bombing in Rosh Ha’ayin, and Hamas claimed responsibility for the Ariel attack. These attacks follow the recent threats from Palestinian militant organizations that they would no longer hold the ceasefire, which they had agreed to on 29 June.

  These latest terrorist attacks are merely another attempt by Palestinian terrorists to target Israeli citizens. The continuing threat of Palestinian terrorism, deliberately aimed at the citizens of Israel, underscores the absolute necessity of Israel’s preventative security measures. Those who perpetrated the attacks are, however, the enemies not only of Israel, but also of the peace process and all members of the international community that are combating terrorism.

  Israel holds the Palestinian leadership fully responsible for its failure to suppress the campaign of terrorism, which continues to endanger the lives of both the Israelis and the Palestinians. The attacks today reaffirm the urgent need for the Palestinian Authority to fulfil its commitments and disarm the terror organizations. Only once terrorism and incitement are fully and finally rejected as an acceptable tactic can we advance the peace process, which is the only means of achieving a genuine and lasting peace between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples.

  I submit this letter in follow-up to numerous letters detailing the campaign of Palestinian terrorism, which document the criminal terrorist strategy for which the terrorists and their supporters must be held fully accountable.

  I should be grateful if you would arrange to have the text of the present letter circulated as a document of the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly, under agenda items 36 and 160, and of the Security Council. 

Dan Gillerman
Ambassador
Permanent Representative

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