Earlier this week, the Jerusalem Post printed an open letter to Annie Lennox criticizing the singer for her outspoken comments on the war in Gaza.
Today, Annie answered back.Here is her response, published on her MySpace site.
Dear Yoram Dori,
After reading your letter (10 January 2009) I felt despair and anguish at the manner in which the awful war in Gaza is being used to divide the rest of the world between "pro-Israel' and pro-Palestinian"' instead of" pro-peace' or pro-war". In my mind, the only distinction that matters right now, as Palestinian and Israeli lives are being lost and endangered by this violent conflict, is whether you support war or peace. I join hands with other humanitarians who support peace.
For every Osher Tewito in Israel, there are at least 10 children who have tragically lost limbs or indeed their lives, to this conflict in Gaza. Eachand every single one of these lost childhoods is an immense tragedy, whether Israeli or Palestinian and I feel the pain for both people. I work for peace so that children on both sides of the Gaza/Israel border are free from rocket and missile attacks. I hope for peace so that these children can know one another, learn from one another, appreciate each other, and maybe, some day in the future, love each other.
There are millions of people in Britain who support the campaign to end this war, including the Jewish Friends of Israel' who in the Sunday Observer (11January 2009) called upon Israel to employ an immediate ceasefire. What is obvious to us all is that the continuing death toll which has already claimed almost 900 lives in Gaza is not going to bring safety to Israelis.
From my perspective, peace and security comes with dialogue, not bullets and bombs, and therefore I make no apology for being a leading member of the voice of reason, in opposition to this senseless war. I have taken this position as a humanitarian and as a mother. I cannot stand seeing children killed. I cannot stand seeing families shattered. I want this to end, and only a permanent ceasefire will achieve this.
A peaceful future for Israelis and Palestinians is possible, but it is being made impossible by this war. War is not the way to solve this conflict, and all it is doing is sewing the seeds of hatred and anger on both sides of the fence and fuelling further misery, which is likely to find expression in another round of conflict.
I am not alone in my views, and my position is supported by a cross spectrum of communities in Britain including my Jewish and Israeli friends. Mr Dori, for your information, I too have friends and family in Israel, and want to see them safe and secure, in the same way that I want human rights protection for the citizens of Gaza.
The end of this war on Gaza is just the first step, but a necessary step nonetheless. We must then, all of us, campaign for peace negotiations that meet the needs of both parties. I am not opposed to Israel and I do not support Palestinians. I support an end to the war and for peaceful negotiations. That is my position and I state it unequivocally and without apology.
Yours Sincerely Annie Lennox ( London).
