Excellency,

I write to draw your attention to a series of irresponsible statements made by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.  On 30 November 2014, President Abbas gave an interview to the Egyptian daily Akhbar Al-Yawm in which he said. “There are six million [Palestinian] refugees who wish to return, and by the way, I am one of them... we cannot close the door to those who wish to return.”

By demanding that millions of Palestinians flood the Jewish state, President Abbas is calling for the destruction of Israel by demographic means.  He is cultivating impossible fantasies, misleading his people, and distancing us from peace. 

The international community can no longer wave this off as an issue to be resolved in negotiations.  Real peace will only come when the Palestinian leadership calls for mutual recognition, tells its people that difficult compromises will be necessary, and abandons the anti-Israel incitement.  

President Abbas is not speaking like a leader who is committed to peace.  Thus it is time for the international community to publically call on President Abbas to abandon the claim of return and make it publically clear that the so-called right of return is the single greatest obstacle to peace. 

I should be grateful if you would have this letter distributed as an official document of the Security Council. I wish to inform you that an identical letter has been sent to H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations.  Please accept, Excellency, the assurance of my highest consideration.

Yours truly,

Ron Prosor

Ambassador

Permanent Representative