Sharansky’s Letter of Resignation

This breaks my Heart. I love this man and I love beloved Israel. I understand him though.

Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

I am writing to inform you of my decision to resign as Minister of Diaspora
Affairs and Jerusalem.

As you know, I have opposed the disengagement plan from the beginning on
the grounds that I believe any concessions in the peace process must be linked
to democratic reforms within Palestinian society. Not only does the
disengagement plan ignore such reforms, it will in fact weaken the prospects for
building a free Palestinian society and at the same time strengthen the forces
of terror.

Will our departure from Gaza encourage building a society where freedom
of speech is protected, where independent courts protect individual rights, and
where free markets enable Palestinians to build an independent economic life
beyond government control? Will our departure from Gaza end incitement in the
Palestinian media or hate-filled indoctrination in Palestinian schools? Will our
departure from Gaza result in the dismantling of terror groups or the
dismantling of the refugee camps in which four generations of Palestinians have
lived in miserable conditions?

Clearly, the answer to all these questions is no.

The guiding principle behind the disengagement plan is based on the
illusion that by leaving Gaza we will leave the problems of Gaza behind us. As
the mantra goes, "We will be here, and they will be there." Once again, we are
repeating the mistakes of the past by not understanding that the key to building
a stable and lasting peace with our Palestinian neighbors lies in encouraging
and supporting their efforts to build a democratic society. Obviously, these
changes will surely take time, but Israel is not even linking its departure from
Gaza to the initiation of the first steps in this direction.

In my view, the disengagement plan is a tragic mistake that will
exacerbate the conflict with the Palestinians, increase terrorism and dim the
prospects of forging a genuine peace. Yet what turns this tragic mistake into a
missed opportunity of historic proportions is the fact that as a result of
changes in the Palestinian leadership and the firm conviction of the leader of
the free world that democracy is essential to stability and peace — a conviction
that is guiding America’s actions in other places around the world — an
unprecedented window of opportunity has opened.

Recent events across the globe, whether in former Soviet republics like
Ukraine or Kyrgyzstan, or in Arab states like Lebanon and Egypt, prove again and
again the ability of democratic forces to induce dramatic change. How absurd
that Israel, the sole democracy in the Middle East, still refuses to believe in
the power of freedom to transform our world.

Alongside my concerns about the dangers entailed in a unilateral
disengagement from Gaza, I am even more concerned about how the government’s
approach to disengagement is dividing Israeli society. We are heading toward a
terrible rift in the nation; and to my great chagrin, I feel that the government
is making no serious effort to prevent it.

As minister I share collective responsibility for every government
decision. Now, when the disengagement plan is in the beginning of its
implementation stages and all government institutions are exclusively focused on
this process, I no longer feel that I can faithfully serve in a government whose
central policy — indeed, sole raison d’etre — has become one to which I am so
adamantly opposed.

I would like to thank you for our productive cooperation over the last
four years… In particular, your sensitivity toward issues of concern to the
Jewish people and the strong backing you gave to my efforts to combat
anti-Semitism and to strengthen Israel’s connection with the Diaspora made it
possible for Israel to forge the many successes we achieved together in these
areas.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you for the central
role you played in integrating Yisrael B’Aliya into the Likud, a historic step
of great national importance. As in the past, I will continue my lifelong
efforts to contribute to the unity and strength of the Jewish people, both in
Israel and in the Diaspora. I will also continue to advocate and promote the
idea that freedom and democracy are essential to peace and security.

Sincerely,
Natan Sharansky

The Truth Must be Told

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