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
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