ADL Troubled by President Bush's Comments on Israeli Strike Against Hamas Leader
New York, NY, June 10, 2003... The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) was "troubled" by today's statement by President George W. Bush criticizing Israel for its targeted strike against a known Hamas terrorist leader. In a letter to President Bush, while expressing appreciation for his efforts to bring about a Middle East peace, ADL said, "we are troubled by your statement today."
Following is the letter to President Bush from Glen A. Tobias, ADL National Chairman, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director:
We greatly appreciate your determined efforts to bring about the summit in Aqaba and to move towards your vision of Middle East peace of "two nations living side by side in peace and security."
At the same time, we are troubled by your statement today that Israel's targeted strike against a known Hamas terrorist "does not contribute to the security of Israel."
Israel, like the U.S., has the right to defend itself from terrorism. Only the day before, Hamas once again made clear its intentions by its involvement in a coordinated attack on Israelis and in its unequivocal rejection of ending its war against Israel.
Ultimately it will be necessary for Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas and his forces to dismantle Hamas. Until then, Israel cannot stand idly by while its citizens are slaughtered.
The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.
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