Permanent Observer Mission

of the State of Palestine

to the United Nations

115 East 65
th
Street New York, NY 10065 Tel. (212) 288-8500 Fax (212) 517-2377

GS.398/2014 August 14, 2014

Dear Governor Cuomo,
On 12 August, I wrote to you to extend an invitation to visit the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, and to meet the Palestinian leadership. I am disappointed that you have declined the invitation because of no
time. It is a shame that I read about your decision in the New York Times before receiving an official response, which
at the time of writing I am yet to receive.
It is clear that you are committed to Israels long-term peace and security. The Palestinian leadership is fully
committed to peace and security too. We want a negotiated solution to the decades-long conflict, resulting in two states
living side-by-side in peace and security. But that can only be achieved if an effort is made by all including you to
encourage negotiation and compromise, understand all sides of the conflict, and crucially criticize wrong-doing.
A real friend to Israel would speak the truth to its leaders: the continuous flouting of international law, the
subjugation of the Palestinian people, the siege of Gaza, and the disproportionate and indiscriminate use of force leading
to the deaths and injuries of thousands of civilians including children, damages Israels image internationally and
diminishes the prospects for peace at home. These actions are not in Israels long-term interests.
While you were in West Jerusalem, you may have spotted just minutes away the Israeli flags that dot the
skyline of Occupied East Jerusalem. The flags are flanked by armed Israeli Defense Force personnel standing guard.
These flags are on the tops of homes of Palestinians who were forcibly kicked out by illegal Israeli settlers who squat
there with the protection of the Israeli state, thereby preventing Palestinian families from returning. Imagine that you
return from your trip to Israel to find strangers have taken over your home, and that they are protected by the US Army
who prevents you from entering your property. Would you accept this? This is one example of the daily humiliation and
crimes inflicted upon Palestinians.
I hope you, and any US leadership visiting Israel, will also visit the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, to get a balanced perspective. In the meantime, I would welcome a meeting with you on your return to discuss
how best to support a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Please accept, Governor Cuomo, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Dr. Riyad Mansour
Ambassador
Permanent Observer
The Honorable Andrew Cuomo
Governor of New York State
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224