Dear colleagues

My predominant thoughts are for the health and safety of your family, friends, and communities. Stress and life-threatening health and economic challenges are everywhere, simultaneously bringing out the best (and sadly, the worst in humanity). We see health care workers, our public service, first responders, caregivers, people tireless in securing and delivering supplies of food, and so many citizens in all walks of life helping countries, cities, and individuals deal with unique, once in a life time unprecedented challenges. Acts of charity, thoughtfulness, unselfishness and extraordinary kindness are everywhere.

Well, almost everywhere, just not at the Lancet. On March 27, the Lancet published yet another one-sided unbalanced "Blame Israel" diatribe, lambasting "Israeli oppression" co-authored by individuals that include Mads Gilbert. A notorious BDS supporter, co-author of the infamous Lancet "Open Letter to the People of Gaza" and spokesperson enabled by Hamas who has repeatedly castigated Israel, at every opportunity. The same Mads Gilbert who justified the murder of thousands of innocent citizens during 9/11 using the uniquely twisted logic of moral equivalence. https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Mads-Gilbert-and-the-theater-of-the-absurd-407051

In the latest Lancet letter https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30730-3/fulltext there is no mention of the terror tunnels, no description of how Egypt maintains a closed border with Gaza, and no mention of the war crimes continually fostered by Hamas such as regular rocket fire from Gaza that is regularly directed at civilian populations, including childrens schools.

Remarkably, even the United Nations special envoy for Gaza hailed the COVID-19-related cooperation between Israel and the Palestinians on March 26 2020 https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/03/1060572 

The publication of this letter, sadly, is not a random, one time only accident. It is simply the latest example of The Lancet choosing to use its powerful platform to bash Israel and promote hate by professional haters, rather than facilitating peace and unity. This letter is published at a time, when we all need to foster collaboration, rather than fuel hate and division, throughout our precious communities.

Science, friendship, civility, and global cooperation are key solutions to the current crisis. Hateful diatribes sustain and perpetuate evil individuals who thrive in climates of fear, shadows and darkness, and will not accomplish what we all strive for. Peace, health, security and friendship.

Respectfully,

Daniel Drucker