[Poclad] Palestinian Hamas Government Open Letter to Chavez

[Raging Grannie (Wanda B)]

The following is the full text of an open letter sent by the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs in Gaza to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, on January 12, 
2009. The Gaza government was deposed by PA President Mahmoud Abbas in 
2007. However, the elected Hamas government in Gaza considered Abbas' 
decision unlawful, and continues to operate, despite the siege and the 
intense Israeli military onslaught, which killed, to date, nearly 1,000 
Palestinians and wounded over 4,500 more. Chavez condemned the Israeli 
attacks and threw the Israeli Ambassador out of Caracas .


Palestinian National Authority
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Deputy Office, Gaza
January 12, 2009

In the Name of God; the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

President Hugo Chavez,

Your Excellency, President Hugo Chavez,

We, the people of Palestine , commend your courage to speak and act upon 
your conscience regardless of your detractors' criticism or cowardice.

Mr. President, we have watched death rain upon our families and children in 
Gaza for weeks; and yet we stand proud and ready for any outcome. We are a 
resilient people who wish for peace but will fight rather than bow to 
injustice. We live and die by the codes of our forefathers – codes of 
honor, integrity, truth and bravery.

Throughout history, in a just conflict, there always emerges a champion, a 
single hero who, by his actions, embodies all the virtues the masses aspire 
to. You have demonstrated that you are such a man.

We have observed your commitment to the destitute and disenfranchised since 
you first took office. The Americas are fortunate that your presidency has 
not only survived but emerged as a paradigm to be emulated. You have boldly 
said what the world's masses feel – from speaking out against the sulphur 
of imperialism at the United Nations in 2006 through to the recent 
expulsion of the devil's minion.

Mr. President, we were eager to meet you in the summer of 2007; but 
unfortunately yet another blockade by the Israelis, who control our ports 
and borders, suspended our plans. As we began the truce which we initiated, 
they were already planning the destruction of our infrastructure.

The Israelis slowly and deliberately began reducing the presence of 
journalists and denying humanitarian groups access to Gaza over the past 6 
months. They reduced the number of trucks bringing supplies from several 
thousand to a handful each month. And since they began their bombing 
campaign, food and fuel are scarce. In fact, only 9 of 47 bakeries produce 
bread, only 5% of industrial operations function and wastewater pumping 
stations have shut down, flooding raw sewage into populated areas, farmland 
and the sea.

We do not know who among us will remain alive once this barbaric onslaught 
is ended. But we remain, as a people and a government, undeterred in our 
belief that justice will reign.

We can ask no more of you than you have already done – for you have proven 
that a nation cannot be cowed simply because it drives its own destiny, nor 
will a leader lose his throne for challenging imperialism. We salute the 
citizens of Venezuela for choosing President Chavez; and we commend you for 
being among the few leaders of this age who put people before politics.

I may not live to honor our commitment to meet you; but our people will not 
rest until they have sent a delegation to meet the man who put politics 
aside, spoke with honor and acted with courage.

Very Truly Yours,
Dr. Ahmed Yousef

Deputy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Former Political Advisor to the Prime Minister Ismael Hanniya