The American Agudath Israel has sent two letters to U.S.
President Bush recently in reaction to two major events: the
terrorist bombing in New York City on September 11 and the UN
Conference on Racism in Durban, South Africa that took place
shortly before and was eclipsed by subsequent events. These
are the letters.
October 5, 2001
The Honorable George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. President,
We at Agudath Israel of America, and our constituency of
Orthodox Jews all across the United States, salute your firm
resolve to combat and eradicate the unmitigated evil of
terrorism. We join all our fellow Americans and people of good
will the world over in solidarity with the courageous course
on which you have embarked. May G-d crown your efforts with
great success.
More specifically, we fully support the steps you are taking
to galvanize the entire international community to join the
battle against radical terrorist groups and the countries that
give them safe harbor. It is strategically vital and morally
imperative to build a coalition of this nature. In this
context, we applaud your effort to reach out to those Muslim
nations and groups that recognize terrorism for the evil that
it is, and that condemn premeditated acts of murderous
violence against innocent civilians as a corruption, not an
expression, of Islamic values.
In reaching out to these nations and groups, however, the
United States must remain firm in upholding its own values.
Our nation has a long and proud history of standing with
Israel -- of recognizing the moral foundation and historical
legitimacy of the Jewish State, of identifying with its love
of freedom and practice of democracy, of helping assure its
security as it stands alone amidst a sea of unfriendly and
even hostile neighbors, of protecting it in international
forums like the United Nations against the diplomatic slings
and arrows of nations unsympathetic to its needs and sometimes
to its very existence.
We implore you, Mr. President, respectfully but urgently, not
to deviate from that long and proud history as you seek to
build your international coalition against terrorism. On the
contrary: The tragic events of September 11, and our nation's
firm resolve to respond appropriately to the act of war they
represent, should lead us to strengthen our bond with Israel
and its people -- themselves the targets of deadly terrorism
on an almost daily basis, themselves the objects of blind
hatred and evil design. Now is the time for America to deliver
the unambiguous message to Israel's neighbors that suicide
bombings and other acts of terror directed against innocent
civilians are no less evil, and no less acts of war, then the
acts that were directed against the United States on September
11; and that our posture toward groups that perpetrate such
acts and nations that give them succor is no different than
our posture toward those who are responsible for the carnage
at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Israel has shown that it is prepared to make major territorial
and political concessions in the quest for genuine peace. But
it cannot be expected to negotiate under a cloud of ongoing
terrorism directed against its people by groups that are
within the domain, and to some extent under the control, of
the very entity with which it is engaged in negotiation. As
you have stated, so forcefully, so eloquently and so
correctly, some things are simply not negotiable -- and there
can be no negotiations with terrorists and the polities that
give them safe harbor.
Stand firm on principle, Mr. President, and may G-d give you
the inner strength to pursue this great cause to a successful
conclusion. Our prayers are with you.
Sincerely,
David Zwiebel
Executive Vice President for Government of Public Affairs
* * *
September 4, 2001
The President
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
On behalf of Agudath Israel of America, a national Orthodox
Jewish organization, I write to express both our admiration
and our appreciation for the strong stance you have taken in
regard to United States participation at the U.N.'s World
Conference Against Racism, currently taking place in Durban.
The decision to withdraw our country's delegation was a bold
and courageous step, and deserves the congratulations and
praise of our entire nation. It is tragic -- and sadly ironic
-- that a forum intended to discuss the eradication of racism
could itself become so infused with hatred and bigotry.
The proposed language of the final conference declaration, as
well as the atmosphere and rhetoric of the entire proceedings,
revealed the venomous anti-Israel and anti-Semitic designs of
those who saw the event simply as a vehicle to castigate the
Jewish State and the Jewish people.
The United States, and the entire world, can only be deeply
disheartened by the fact that what could have been an
opportunity to address some of the international community's
most pressing problems was deliberately turned into nothing
more than a sham, a deception which essentially doomed the
proceedings to irrelevance.
Mr. President, some have argued that an American presence at
the conference would have conveyed some symbolic message as to
the evils of racism.
But the truth is that your decision to bring the United States
delegation home sent an even louder, an even clearer, message
to the nations of the world.
When it became obvious that the conference had been hijacked
by hate, it surrendered its role and its mission -- and any
promise of fruitful dialogue and resolution. American
leadership was indeed needed -- to show that our nation would
have no part in this charade of "combating racism" while
legitimizing animus and slander against a single nation and
people.
We again thank you for that leadership and, through your
actions in Durban, for upholding this nation's most cherished
ideals.
Sincerely yours,
Rabbi Shmuel Bloom Executive Vice President
Abba Cohen Director and Counsel, Washington Office
cc: The Honorable Colin Powell
