Posted on 22-4-2002

Letter To Bill
by Adam Keller*

Mr. Bill Gates, Chairman and Chief Software Architect, c/o Microsoft.

Dear Sir,

Two days ago, Israelis travelling on the main highways in the Tel-Aviv area
were treated to enormous billboards bearing the Microsoft logo under the
text "From the depth of our heart - thanks to The Israeli Defence Forces"
on the background of the Israeli national flag. Microsoft is a major
worldwide and world-famous corporation, whose activities overstep national
boundaries and which is committed to promote global community, increasing
trade, and stronger economic relationships and cultural interaction; which
takes pride in promoting extensive community activities of various kinds,
and declares on its website "We're serious about making the world a better
place"; and which maintains offices and conducts active sales campaigns in
Israel as well as at Egypt, Morocco, Dubai, Indonesia, Malaysia and other
Arab and Islamic countires. In view of the above, better could have been
expected of Microsoft than disseminating crude nationalistic and
militaristic propaganda at the Israeli population centers, and effectively
lend its public support to the destructive war recently launched by the
Sharon Government - a war sharply censured by the international community
and controversial among the citizens of Israel itself. We urge you to take
care that this activity is terminated forthwith, and that the estimated
tens of thousands of dollars invested in the abovementioned billboards be
used instead to activities aimed at stopping the bloodshed and promotoing
and equitable Israeli-Palestinian peace.

Sincerely Yours,

* Adam Keller, Spokesperson, Gush Shalom (The Israeli Peace Bloc), POB
2542, Holon 58125, Israel, Phone +972-3-5565804 info@gush-shalom.org