Dear Sir or Madam:
On September 16, 1982, approximately three hundred men wearing military uniforms swept through the Palestinian refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila killing thousands of people. The victims included defenseless women, children, and elderly persons with no political or military agenda. As a survivor and witness, I have offered my personal account in my book, The Lost Blood, explaining my personal experiences. I offer one side of the story. However, my perspective on the events does not tell the entire story. The government of Israel holds another account known as the Kahan Commission Report, which details the findings of the Israeli Knesset Investigation. Almost twenty-five years have passed and the findings of the Kahan Commission have not been released. After writing The Lost Blood, I am contacted daily by people around the world most of them asking the same question…why? This is a question that I cannot answer. Understanding and healing will never come about without the vital information inside the report of the Kahan Commission. Together, with other people from all walks of life, all religions, and a variety of nationalities, I have formed a coalition. On behalf of the coalition, I am issuing the following statement. This message is for every free man and woman around the globe. It is a reminder that the time has come to take serious action and stand firm in the face of aggression on the part of the Israeli government. We are resolved to send a very serious message that “We The People”, of free will, demand the Israeli government take the necessary steps to declassify and release the findings of the Israeli Knesset Investigation, known as the Kahan Commission, to the international community. In anticipation of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Sabra and Shatila Massacre on September 16, 2007, the surviving victims, their families, and concerned citizens of the international community recognize that the time has come for the Israeli government to prove their democracy by lifting the veil of secrecy that has kept the circumstances of the report hidden from the world. We understand that the details of the report may damage the reputation of the Israeli government, but by hiding the Report and creating secrecy surrounding the details of what occurred behind closed doors in Tel Aviv, the Israeli government has delayed the world’s healing and may have perpetuated a global environment of distrust that is more damaging to the peace process than the alternative, which is to unseal the report and accept responsibility for any miscalculations and mistakes that occurred. In support of this request, Americans, Arabs, and Europeans have come together to develop and execute a petition to be signed by free people from all over the world to be sent to the United Nations, the White House, the Israeli government, the governments of all European and Arab Nations, and numerous organizations that support human rights and anti-discrimination to put needed pressure on the government of Israel and encourage a strong voice of reason and a response to the cry for justice. Our desire is that the Kahan Commissions findings be used to teach our children about hate and revenge and the tragic consequences that can occur when these two elements are combined. Dear Readers, it is your duty as members of the human race to ensure that the victims that died including women, children, and elderly men, did not lose their lives in vain. Your signatures on this petition will increase our voice and help us achieve our purpose to discover the truth in time for the twenty-fifth anniversary of the tragedy.
Sincerely,
Marco Abraham
Author of The Lost Blood
ISBN #978-0-9744851-3-3 |
