Letter dated 24 April 2007 from the Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General


	I write to draw your attention to the highly alarming Palestinian terror activity carried out against Israel today.
	Earlier this morning, Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip launched over 22 Qassam rockets and mortar shells at Israeli communities in the south. Hamas, which leads the Palestinian government, claimed responsibility for the rocket attacks.
	Later in the day, it was discovered that the rocket attacks were merely a cover to distract attention from Hamas’s plan to kidnap an Israeli soldier. Thankfully, the IDF was prepared and thwarted the kidnapping.
	Hamas’s terror attacks and kidnapping attempt, on Israeli Independence Day no less, are acts of severe provocation. There is no doubt that Hamas chose to perpetrate these attacks today in particular, a day in which we celebrate Israel’s historic establishment. Additionally, I would like to draw your attention to Hamas’s recent declaration that the ceasefire which had been in place in the Gaza Strip no longer exists. Since the ceasefire went into effect at the end of November 2006, Israel has exhibited continued restraint in responding to the more than 150 rockets fired at it by Palestinian terrorists, as has been reported to you in previous letters.
	Once again, the Hamas-led Palestinian government has shown the international community its true colours. Israel needs no further evidence to know that Hamas’s ways are not the ways of peace. Hamas has shown it will not stop its campaign of terror against Israel until its unholy ambitions of destroying Israel are fulfilled.
	I hope the Security Council will discuss these recent and disturbing developments during its debate tomorrow on the “Situation in the Middle East”.
	An identical letter has been sent to Sir Emyr Jones Parry, President of the Security Council. I should also be grateful if you would arrange to have the text of the present letter circulated to the members and as a document of the Security Council.


(Signed) Dan Gillerman
Ambassador
Permanent Representative









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 United Nations
S/2007/252
 
 Security Council
Distr.: General
3 May 2007

Original: English



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