The following is the full text of the letter sent by the National Federation of Israeli  Journalists to the International Federation of Journalists following the IFJ’s decision to expel the Israeli union.

Dear Aidan,

We are very sorry to hear about your decision. It was the late Yasser Arafat who said in many tough moments during the peace process –” if there is a will- there is a way”.  On that - he was right.  It seems to us that your will to have an open dialogue ran out.
Not surprisingly as the anti Israeli sentiment is clear in many IFJ publications and acts. First came that fact finding mission to the region without as much as one single effort to consult with us on the issue of press under fire. Than we found that we are not invited to Varna or Brussels. Then came a step back from the handshake in Tel Aviv on the issue of payments.

We offered to make 2009 a year of building bridges and trust as we all recognize that there is much that unites us as journalists than divides us as people coming from different regions and many political views.

More and no less important- we offered to slowly build a regional press club in which we and our Palestinian co workers can exchange views and find ways to end mutual demonizing of the other in the press.

We had in mind many forms of co operation including red hot line so that we can help each other in tough situations in a very complex region. We brought these ideas before you in Jerusalem and in Berlin.

Indeed. Some of us found the ways -even at the heat of the battle in Gaza- to reach out to the civilian population there and bring a humanistic message to the Israeli public translating the agony of people in war into a language all can understood.

We are proud of the role that our free press plays in the midst of all the turmoil in the region. Not that we are without much self criticism- but we shaped Its critical sharp tone. Its vows that nothing in politics or big business is out of limits to the public’s right to know.. Is it not a sad irony that the IFJ is pushing out of its ranks – the one press core in the region that is that free.

But it soon became clear that the IFJ did not wish to lead the two sides- Arabs and Israelis- into a carefully planned and jointly made regional media club but rather opted to slowly push the Israeli members out. Yes this was not only about money. It was about full and equal membership. And no- there was no lack of respect to the IFJ on our part. You chose to see it that way for your very own reasons.

For a new page we all may have to wait for an Obama union style leadership- in your midst.

We regret this – and hope that in the future you will find the way to undo what you are doing now.

Yossi Bar Moha

Hika Ginosar

Haim Shibi

Uri Paz

Shike Komornick