An Open Letter to Mairead Corrigan

An Open Letter to Mairead Corrigan, 1976 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

Dear Mrs. Corrigan,

Though I do appreciate your endeavor in peace promotion, I cannot help expressing my strong disagreement on your attitudes towards Israel as well as lack of understanding of the current situation in the Middle East, on the whole, and in the so-called ‘occupied territories’, in particular.

As a Peace People Community Founding Member you have established the basics of this concept. As I may realize, your idea has always been cloze to the notion ‘Peace at any cost’. And I fully support this idea.

However, I would express here a few remarks which Harsh Reality introduces to the Purity of this Abstract Apprehension.

Firstly, it concerns the right of Israel to possess nuclear weaponry. Even sightless people may see that Israeli nuclear program has always been, is and will always be no more and no less than a so-called ‘factor of retaliation’. We are genuinely peaceful folks whose arms are for defense only. And it is nothing more and nothing less than your insinuations that we target other nations. At the same time, you equal our nuke potential to Nazi gas chambers…

However, I would not wonder anything if you support Mordekhai Vanunu, the scandalous “nuclear spy” who caused an eternal damage to the security and image of the State of Israel.

Secondly, you do your best in support of our foes. As a Peace Person why should not you raise your voice of protest against inhuman conditions of Gilyad Shalit’s imprisonment that continues for over 1,500 days?  Certainly, he has been captured for the sake of ransom and those who keep the soldier with dual Israeli and French citizenship in strict confinement cannot agree on the final price for his freedom.

Instead your greatest uneasiness lies in a completely different sphere: your effort is directed to break the so-called “blockade” of the Gaza Strip that has been imposed by the Israeli Authorities to bring our boy out of trouble. For this reason you have arranged the “Rachel Corrie” shipment. Moreover, you feel as if you have the right to arrive in Israel any time despite of violating the local legislation.

In this respect, I feel like telling you: “You are wrong! In spite of trying to defend the rights of poor people who let a bundle of criminals to seize power in the Gaza Strip, you should better direct all your energy into restoring a really peaceful regime in that area!! And it is worth that, trust me!”

And, finally, please leave us alone. We will solve our problems without your involvement.

Thank you.

Yous sincerely,

Ziv Vinokur,
Johnpen1@gmail.com