Rabbinic Appeal to Israeli Government to Expose Clinton's Lies

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF YOUNG ISRAEL
3 WEST 16TH STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10011
212-929-1525 - FAX: 212-727-9526
NCYI@YOUNCISRAEL.ORG - WWW.YOUNGISRAEL.ORG

June 24, 2004 / 5 Tammuz 5764

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Minister Natan Sharansky
Minister Danny Naveh
Government of Israel
Jerusalem, Israel

Dear Prime Minister Sharon, Minister Netanyahu, Minister Sharansky, and Minister Naveh,

I am sure that you are aware that former President Bill Clinton's new book, "My Life", has been released. The distortions about Israel in this book - in particular Mr. Clinton's descriptions about what happened at the Wye River Summit - sully your honor and Israel's honor, and damage the integrity of the Jewish State.

I am writing to respectfully urge that as the key participants at the 1998 Wye Summit, you join together in a unified and immediate response.

I specifically refer to those events surrounding the agreement to release Jonathan Pollard.

I have had the honor of meeting each of you personally, and I have heard directly from Ministers Netanyahu, Sharansky and Naveh, the truth about what really occurred at Wye.

Even though these personal accounts were shared with me in separate meetings, sometimes years apart, I have heard the same basic facts from all of the ministers, namely that Jonathan Pollard's release was negotiated as an integral part of the Wye Accords and there was an agreement, that that agreement was a deal-maker, that Israel fulfilled its part of the agreement, and that the United States has yet to fulfill her part by releasing Jonathan and sending him home to Israel.

Each of you stressed that the commitment President Clinton made to free Jonathan at Wye was not a promise between two men, but a commitment between two nations. As recently as this past February, when I met with Minister Sharansky in the U.S. Federal Prison in Butner, North Carolina, while visiting and in the presence of Jonathan Pollard, Minister Sharansky even stressed that "Israel had crossed all its red lines" in the negotiations, and paid a very heavy price for Jonathan's release. All of you have expressed great disappointment that, to this day, the U.S. has not fulfilled her part of that agreement.

With the publication of the Clinton book and the reviving of the old lies, it appears that the Al-Mighty is giving the Government of Israel another opportunity to insist upon Pollard's release. Clinton's book has made the Wye issue once again newsworthy, and provides the opportunity to complete that which was begun at Wye, the release of Jonathan Pollard from U.S. Federal Prison.

Perhaps, it is just for such an exalted moment as this that G-d has waited - when four Jewish leaders stand together in the name of truth - to bless us with the miracle of Jonathan's freedom.

But even if that is not the case, and your united stand does nothing more than put the truth on record - that Israel negotiated for Jonathan Pollard's release at Wye and an agreement was reached, and that Israel has fulfilled her obligations-that alone would be important and a moral victory.

Our tradition teaches us that when Jews stand alone they are easily overcome, but when they stand united they are invincible. If the Prime Minister and the Ministers - all key participants at Wye - stand united and reaffirm that which really happened, it will be a great sanctification of G-d's Name, and the blessing of Heaven will be upon you and the People of Israel.

In the name of HaRav Mordechai Eliyahu, former Chief Rabbi of Israel and Jonathan's Rabbi, and on behalf of Jews throughout the world, I urge the Government of Israel, as represented by yourselves, to stand united and act without delay - to do this great deed for Jonathan and for all of Israel.

Respectfully,
(signed)
Rabbi Pesach Lerner
Executive Vice President
National Council of Young Israel