BILL GATES PRAISES THE ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCES

To
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
Email info [at] gush-shalom.org

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You can endorse the above letter, or compose a text of your own, and write to
Bill Gates via the following Microsoft addresses:

per email:
Microsoft Corporation <microsoftcom_contactus [at] css.one.microsoft.com>
Mr Waggener Edstrom - Microsoft Public Relations <rrt [at] wagged.com>; ph: 503-443-7070

on the site:
Microsoft feedback http://www.microsoft.com/enable/feedback.htm

per fax:
Microsoft Technology Center - Silicon Valley Fax Number: (650) 693-8557

A full list of Microsoft offices around the world is available via
http://www.microsoft.com/worldwide/

and more of its public relations officials can be located via

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.asp

NB: "The Wounded Lion" (The Other Israel's editorial overview by Adam Keller
evaluating one year of Sharon rule) is now online: http://other_israel.tripod.com/ed.html
This letter is a good start, but simply boycotting Microsoft might be better. I'm sure Bill Gates, Microsoft CEO's and Microsoft shareholders understand the language of money.