‫כ"ד ניסן תש"ע‬

8 April 2010
Excellency,

I write to bring your attention to the decision to name a central street –– only steps from
the Palestinian Authority’s Presidential Compound in Ramallah –– after Yehiye Ayash, a
terrorist mastermind responsible for the murder hundreds of innocent Israeli men,
women, and children. As the founder of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades of the Hamas
terrorist organization, Ayash –– also known as “the Engineer” –– was responsible for
suicide bombings and a bloody campaign of terrorism against Israeli civilians.

Commemorating –– and not for the first time –– an arch terrorist such as Yehiye Ayash is
an act against the spirit of the peace process and against Israel. In yet another disturbing
development, the Palestinian Authority announced in March 2010 that it renamed a
square in el-Bireh, adjacent to Ramallah, in honor of Dalal Mughrabi, a leader in one of
the bloodiest terrorist attacks perpetrated against Israel, the 1978 Costal Road Massacre
in which 37 Israeli and American civilians were murdered.

Given that the Road Map for peace explicitly states that “all official Palestinian
institutions end incitement against Israel,” what message does the Palestinian Authority
send by honoring terrorists?

Such glorification of Ayash and Mughrabi fuels the future of terrorism as Palestinian
children now walk down streets and through squares that honor terrorists. These
decisions cultivate and incite hatred in future generations and stand as an obstacle to
long-term prospects for peace in the Middle East. Peace will take root if children are
taught tolerance and coexistence and condemnation of terrorism. In this regard –– as well
as in other fields –– Israel expects the Palestinian Authority to be a responsible partner.

Given the Palestinian obligation under the Road Map to combat incitement, I call on you
and the United Nations –– as a moral voice for peace and security –– to vigorously
condemn the celebration of Yehiye Ayash and the terrorism he promoted and represents.
I sincerely hope that you will raise the unfortunate decision to glorify terrorists in the
streets of Ramallah in your upcoming briefing to the Security Council on the Question of
Palestine and the Situation in the Middle East on 14 April 2010.

Allow me, Excellency, to renew to you the assurances of my highest consideration.

Yours truly,
H.E. Mr. B. Lynn Pascoe
Under-Secretary-General [Signed]
Department of Political Affairs
S-3770A Gabriela Shalev
The United Nations Ambassador
New York Permanent Representative