From "Ellen W. Horowitz"

An editor from Hamodia asked me what I would say to George Bush if given a 2
minute opportunity. In no mood to grovel or be diplomatic, I decided to
dispense with the formal protocol (I¹ve been watching this show a little
too long to be awed or impressed by the arrival of yet another world leader
full of plans for this region).

I deeply regret that we presently lack the leadership, self-confidence and
chutzpah to stand up and respond as we should to the leader of a superpower
who has overstepped the line with us - and placed us in jeopardy.

So I strung together some thoughts - some previously published and some
spontaneous - and responded from the perspective of a concerned, angry, and
very determined Jewish mother living in Israel.

The letter below will appear today in Hamodia in the U.S. and Thursday in the
Israeli English edition:

Mr. Bush,

Over the years, I have watched an international procession of an extremely
mixed multitude of lovers, friends and allies pervade our inner sanctum in
the name of a brand of peace, liberty and humanity that has threatened our
very soul.

One need not be an economic expert to understand that in this world - in
your world - justice and morality are expendable when economics and oil are
at stake. It seems apparent that as far as Israel is concerned, the laws of
supply and demand command that pressure be applied upon Israel in direct
proportion to the availability and price of oil on the market. When the
political pipeline freezes, the heat is turned-up on Israel in the form of
settlement freezes and the threat of Palestinian statehood. It appears that
America is committed to continuing along a foreign policy route that spells
disaster for all of us.

Israel does not want to be shackled to the United States, so don¹t flog us
with that great American whip you call liberty and justice. We have
experienced history in the extreme. Through thousands of years we have
become well-acquainted with oppression and freedom, as well as war and
peace. No other nation has weathered such an epic and arduous journey
through time. And we can tell you a few things about this region and its
peoples.

There is only one reality that we need be concerned with and that is the
Truth. Mr Bush, you would do well to acknowledge and take action to uphold
the following not-so-little truism: The Land of Israel belongs and will
always belong to the Jewish People. This is a Divine promise and, as such,
any endorsement or acceptance of Palestinian statehood is a perversion of
everything that is right. To proceed with any plan for a two state solution,
settlement freeze, or plans to divide the Holy city of Jerusalem is simply
wrong and will result in further chaos.

We in Israel understand that it is a U.S. election year and that you are
desperately seeking a respectable footnote in the history books. Why
Israel always seems to bear the brunt of this American electoral malaise is
something that all Israelis and Diaspora Jews should think long and hard
about. But these days, there doesn¹t seem to be much time for deep
reflection.

So, allow me to wrap this up by borrowing a great American phrase.

Don¹t tread on us, Mr. Bush. May G-d save us from your regional plans.