Mr. President,
 

Time has come to admit and believe that miracles may happen. We know that you are a believer; even some say that you are a firm believer. This however is not the subject of this letter. The important thing is that you believe in one of the divine religions that is based on tolerance, sacrifice and love, a religion that tells you that miracles may happen at any time or place.

A miracle, if we may call it that, is occurring nowadays in the occupied Palestine; a miracle planned, written, and played by the Palestinian people. It is not arrogance, but pride; nor violence, but strength of belief in God, in the Homeland and in the cause.

It is time to admit that the people of Palestine are determined not to surrender, neither now nor in the future. What would the F-16s, Apaches, and the latest weapons of destruction do to a nation that decided to take the road of martyrdom in order to live, and not the other way around?

Do you really believe that those children, women and elderly must be slain like sheep? Or that they do not possess human feelings? Is this really God's will? Don't you see that their perseverance is granted to them by God, to enable them to stand in face of that huge arsenal supplied and financed by the USA?
This legendary perseverance is even described by God in the Holy Qur'an, Surat Al Maedah Ayah 20, when talking about Palestine in the era of Prophet Moses (PBUH), "Surely there is a powerful people in it".

The people of Palestine will not give away its honour and dignity, the dignity of all Arabs; will not give away its holy places and the homeland of its ancestors. They are being annihilated, but they are standing firm, ready to die, but on their soil, to lie there forever.

These peoples have only their land and their belief; and they had more than enough of deportations and taking refuge in other countries. They had much more of what the whole world can tolerate. Enough is enough.

We were told once that you are realistic; and that you appreciate democracy and support its flourishing around the world; and that you are religious man. A true believer is that who respects the teachings of other religions. This must make you accept the irrevocable facts, concede God's instructions and admit the lawfulness of the Palestinian cause.

To admit one's fault is a virtue, correcting one's fault is yet a bigger virtue. A real man wouldn't hesitate to correct his faults. I believe that this would be looked upon as a merit in his favour.

Mr. President,

One of our great leaders, Salahuddin Al Ayyoubi, (Saladin), who defeated the Crusaders and took Jerusalem back, set an example on the treatment of prisoners. He gave them freedom to stay where they live, as peaceful citizens, or leave in peace. He sent his personal Physician to treat the captured enemy sick commander, with a message "that is how our religion ordered us to treat our enemies".
History tells us also of an incident that faced Napoleon Bonaparte. His army encountered very stiff resistance in a certain area. And his soldiers could not overcome the resistance except after paying a very heavy price. Once they took the position, he ordered his soldiers to salute the enemy killed soldiers, and to untie their commander who was taken as prisoner.
It is time for the US to take that brave stand and to force Sharon and his army to go for peace. It is time to stop the annihilation of the Palestinians and start the task of reaching a comprehensive and just solution for all parties, especially the right of survival of the Palestinian people.

Khalaf Ahmed Al Habtoor

President Yasser Arafat,

I am sure that you have heard and read the recent declarations of the American President George Bush during his last meeting with Sharon. He was very open and removed the mask completely as he announced his personal and his government's beliefs:

* "No" to the right of the Palestinian People to return to their lands

* "No" to the return of the 1949 borders.

* This horrendous stand of the US requires, in my opinion, that we face it and encounter the seriousness of the current stage with whatever available means that we have.

Therefore, I would like, Mr. President, to point out briefly to some facts that I am sure you are aware of, so as not to lose our way in the middle of mirages and illusions.

Influential Arab forces have distanced themselves from the struggle over Palestine, neighbouring countries are living in cocoons, Iraq is suffering, some other countries are struggling to survive in a world subjected to US hegemony, and the Arabs are subjected to unprecedented pressure.

You must from now on depend on the Almighty, and on your persevering people, and abandon all political deals adopted so far, which led us to this deteriorating situation.

What the American President and his government announced openly is in fact a decision to annihilate even the new Palestinian generation that is not born yet. It requires a brave response from the Palestinian and the rest of the Arabs that includes:

* Breaking all contacts and negotiations with the US Administration.

* The Arab League must request all governments to stop their cooperation with president Bush Administration and cease all exchange of information and rejection by Arab and Islamic countries of all initiatives, especially from American and European countries.

* The immediate halting by some Arab countries, and by a part of the Palestinian Authority, of the disgraceful cooperation extended by them to the USA and Israel. This would lead to the loss of the cause, while it will not win immunity of priority from the Super Power.

* All Arab countries must withdraw from the international organizations, which are controlled by American-Israeli policies, including the UN.

* All Arab countries and the Palestinian Authority must stop all forms of diplomatic or cultural relations with the Zionist entity and expel its representatives from all Arab territories.
* Use all mean to recover occupied Arab territories by force and return them to their rightful owners, because what is taken by force could be recovered only by force.

The weakness of most Arab governments has led others to encroach upon Arab and Muslims.

Abu Ammar, I wouldn't try to be polite because this time does not need politeness. We must review all Arab policies, including yours, which brought us to the edge of disaster.
Wrong decisions by leaderships are not unheard of, but they are usually corrected after a thorough evaluation of the situation, and a new path is selected.

Our Palestinian brothers are facing a declaration of annihilation and that is being executed. How should we respond if we do not change our policies? Do we know what we are doing?
You are requested to quit all policies adopted before, and take immediately the following resolutions:

* Announcing the cancellation of the Road Map, rejection and revoking all agreements, particularly Oslo and Geneva, which means the immediate policies and diplomacies that have led the Palestinian people to the present dilemma.

* Reaffirming the right of return as a basic right, as well as rejection of all settlements and the Zionist regime in Palestine.

* Proclaiming a secular state for all people of all religions and ethnicities on the basis of democratic elections.

I am not calling to our people to commit suicide, but stressing a firm fact in our belief: never give up our rights nor our sovereignty and dignity which is our land.
Brother Abu Ammar, the defeated Arab people are waiting for your decision, and this one is the most difficult thing ever.
 

Khalaf Ahmed Al Habtoor