Text - Minister Sharansky's Letter of Resignation

Translation to English provided to IMRA by Minister Sharansky's office

May 2, 2005

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
Office of the Prime Minister
Jerusalem

Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

I am writing to inform you of my decision to resign as Minister of Diaspora
Affairs and Jerusalem.

As you know, I have oppose the disengagement plan from the beginning on the
grounds that I believe any concessions in the peace process must be linked
to democratic reforms within Palestinian society. Not only does the
disengagement plan ignore such reforms, it will in fact weaken the prospects
for building a free Palestinian society and at the same time strengthen the
forces of terror.

Will our departure from Gaza encourage building a society where freedom of
speech is protected, where independent courts protect individual rights and
were free market enable Palestinians to build an independent economic life
beyond government control? Will our departure from Gaza end incitement in
the Palestinian media or hate-filled indoctrination in Palestinian schools?
Will our departure from Gaza result in the dismantling of terror groups or
the dismantling of the refugee camps in which four generation of
Palestinians have lived in miserable conditions?

Clearly, the answer to all these questions is no.

The guiding principle behind the disengagement plan is based on the illusion
that by leaving Gaza we will leave the problems of Gaza behind us. As the
familiar mantra goes "we will be here, and they will be there". Once again,
we are repeating the mistakes of the past by not understanding that the key
to building a stable and lasting peace with our Palestinian neighbors lies
in encouraging and supporting their efforts to build a democratic society.
Obviously, these changes surely will take time, but Israel is not even
linking its departure from Gaza upon the initiation of the first steps in
this direction.

In my view, the disengagement plan is a tragic mistake that will exacerbate
the conflict with the Palestinians, increase terrorism, and dim the
prospects of forging a genuine peace. Yet what turns this tragic mistake
into a missed opportunity of historic proportions is the fact that as a
result of changes in the Palestinian leadership and the firm conviction of
the leader of the free world that democracy is essential to stability and
peace - a conviction that is guiding America's actions in other places
around the world - an unprecedented window of opportunity has opened.
Recent events across the globe, whether in former Soviet republics like
Ukraine or Kyrgyzstan, or in Arab states like Lebanon and Egypt, prove again
and again the ability of democratic forces to induce dramatic change. How
absurd that Israel, the sole democracy in the Middle East, still refuses to
believe in the power of freedom to transform the world.

Alongside my concerns, about the danger entailed in a unilateral
disengagement from Gaza, I am even more concerned about how the government's
approach to disengagement is dividing Israeli society. We are heading
towards a terrible rift in the nation and to my great chagrin; I feel that
the government is making no serious effort to prevent it.

As Minister I share collective responsibility for every government decision.
Now when the disengagement plan is in the beginning of its implementation
stages and all government institutions are exclusively focused on this
process, I no longer feel that I can faithfully serve in a government whose
central policy - indeed, sole raison d'etre - has become one to which I am
so adamantly opposed.

I would like to thank you for our productive cooperation over the last four
years. In particular, you sensitivity toward issues of concern to the Jewish
People and the strong backing you gave to my efforts to combat anti-Semitism
and to strengthen Israel's connection with the Diaspora made possible for
the State of Israel to forge the many successes which we achieved together
in these areas.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you for the central role
you played in integrating Israel B'aliya into the Likud, a historic step of
great national importance.

As in the past, I will continue my lifelong efforts to contribute to the
unity and strength of the Jewish People both in Israel and in the Diaspora.
I will also continue to advocate and promote the idea that freedom and
democracy are essential to peace and security.

Sincerely

Natan Sharansky