Eli
E. Hertz | July 17, 2007
I
read with interest your remarks on the Middle East given on July 16, 2007 at the
White House.
I
appreciate your sincere commitment and devotion in promoting and advancing the
creation of functional democracies and peace around the world – particularly
your effort in the Middle East.
As
one who devotes his time studying the Arab-Israeli conflict, and as a person of
the Jewish race and religion, it became incumbent upon me to direct your
attention to statements you made of which I found offending. Statements
perceived as fact, but in reality are, in my humble opinion, misguided.
I
would start with the notion that your administration will not ‘do business’ with
terror organizations and those who call for the destruction of Israel, or at
best, suggest to toss the “Jews to the sea.”
This
brings me to Fateh, the main faction of the PLO for whom Mahmoud Abbas is the
driving force and was one of its founding members. This is the organization and
leadership that the administration relies upon to bring functional democracy,
freedom and peace to the region.
Mr.
President, it takes little effort to learn what Fateh is all about. Its
constitution calls under Article 12 for the “Complete liberation of Palestine,
and obliteration of Zionist economic, political, military and cultural
existence.”
As
for how it will achieve its goal to wipe Israel off the map, Fateh’s
constitution, Article 19, minces no words:
“Armed
struggle is a strategy and not a tactic, and the Palestinian Arab People’s armed
revolution is a decisive factor in the liberation fight and in uprooting the
Zionist existence, and this struggle will not cease unless the Zionist state is
demolished and Palestine is completely liberated” [italic by author]
If
this does not suffice, please review Abbas’ words in a recent rally on January
11, 2007, to a crowd estimated at nearly 250,000 supporters. Abbas calls on
Palestinians to refrain from internal fighting and to direct their guns only
against Israeli “occupation.”
He
promises to “not give up one inch of land in Jerusalem” and he “considers the
settlements illegal.”
In
his book, “the issue of the refugees is non-negotiable”
So
as much for the partner.
And
now to the “Occupation”
I
notice with relief that you did not spell out who is the occupier and who is the
occupant – just to make sure I will discuss the legal occupation under
international law of Jewish settlers in the area known forever as Judea,
Samaria, and Gaza.
In
1897 it was Benjamin Herzl, founder of modern Zionism who said:
“Palestine is our ever-memorable historic home. The very name of Palestine would
attract our people with a force of marvelous potency.”
In
1917 it was Arthur James Balfour of Great Britain who
declared:
“His
Majesty’s Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a
national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to
facilitate the achievement of this object …”
In
1922 it was Winston Churchill (your hero), British Secretary of
State for the Colonies that declared:
Jews
are in Palestine “as of right and not on sufferance … When it is asked what is
meant by the development of the Jewish National Home in Palestine, it may be
answered that it is not the imposition of a Jewish nationality upon the
inhabitants of Palestine as a whole, but the further development of the existing
Jewish community, with the assistance of Jews in other parts of the world, in
order that it may become a centre in which the Jewish people as a whole may take
on grounds of religion and race, an interest and a pride.”
On
July 24, 1922 it was fifty-one member countries – the entire League of
Nations – that published the legally binding document “Mandate
for Palestine” and unanimously declared:
“Recognition
Has Been Given to the Historical Connection of the Jewish People with Palestine
and to the Grounds for Reconstituting their National Home in that Country.”
The
“Mandate for Palestine,” a historical League of Nations document laid
down the Jewish legal right to settle anywhere in western Palestine, a
10,000-square-mile area between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, an
entitlement unaltered in international law and valid to this day.
On
June 30, 1922 it was the joint resolution of both Houses of Congress of
the United States that unanimously endorsed the “Mandate for
Palestine,” confirming the irrevocable right of Jews to settle in the area of
Palestine – anywhere between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.
“Favoring
the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people.
“resolved
by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United State of America in
congress assembled, That the United States of America favors the
establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, it being
clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and
religious rights of Christian and all other non-Jewish communities in Palestine,
and that the holy places and religious buildings and sites in Palestine shall be
adequately protected.” [The resolution was incorporated in the 1937
Palestine Royal commission Report, Chapter II, page 31]
On
September 21, 1922 it was Warren G. Harding, President of the United
Sates of America who signed the joint resolution of
approval to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
Mr.
President, Palestine is a geographical area, not a nationality!
As
a matter of fact there has never been a sovereign Arab state in Palestine. The
artificiality of a Palestinian identity is reflected in the attitudes and
actions of neighboring Arab nations who never established a Palestinian state
themselves. Nor did the Arabs recognize or establish a Palestinian state during
the two decades prior to the Six-Day War when the West Bank was under
Jordanian control and the Gaza Strip was under Egyptian control; nor did the
Palestinian Arabs clamor for autonomy or independence during those years under
Jordanian and Egyptian rule.
Mr.
President – Jewish “continuing occupation” that you speak about, is legal and
endorsed by international law.
The
“Mandate for Palestine” document defined where Jews are and are not permitted to
settle. Article 6 of the Mandate clearly states:
“The
Administration of Palestine, while ensuring that the rights and position of
other sections of the population are not prejudiced, shall
facilitate Jewish immigration under suitable conditions and shall
encourage, in co-operation with the Jewish agency referred to in
Article 4, close settlement by Jews on the land, including State lands
and waste lands not required for public purposes.”
The
“Mandate for Palestine” document is the last legally binding document regarding
the status of what is commonly called “the West Bank and Gaza.” The September
16, 1922 memorandum (of the Mandate) is also the last modification of the
official terms of the “Mandate” on record by the League of Nations or by its
legal successor – the United Nations – in accordance with Article 27 of the
“Mandate” that states unequivocally: “The consent of the Council of the League
of Nations is required for any modification of the terms of this mandate.”
Mr.
President, political rights to self-determination as a polity for Arabs were
guaranteed in three other mandates – in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq. A forth Arab
state east of the Jordan River – Trance-Jordan, came to fruition via the
“Mandate for Palestine.”
Mr.
President:
300,000,000
Arabs in 21 ‘exclusive’ Arab countries now occupy an area of 5,207,000 Square
Miles, including all the principal Arab and Moslem centers.
6,000,000
Jews in 1 country now occupy an area of nearly 10,000 square miles [will fit
into Lake Michigan with plenty of room left] in Palestine, and you Mr. President
propose to reduce it even further.
This
is an injustice and a grievous handicap to the continuous development and
security of the Jewish State.
Thank
you.
Eli
E. Hertz
