June 23, '09 - reply from the AG to my 2 requests

Rob McKenna

ATTORNEY GENERAL OF WASHINGTON

1125 Washington Street SE • PO Box 40100 • Olympia WA 98504-0100

June 23,2009

Mr. Bert Sacks

6550 Greenwood Ave N, #1 1

Seattle, WA 98103

Dear Mr. Sacks:

Thank you for your letter regarding Israeli actions in Gaza. You asked Attorney General McKenna to respond to two questions:

1 . In my previous letter (enclosed) I ask your opinion whether the Israeli denial of food,
medicine and water is legal under international law. I am again asking you for a response
to this question before our meeting. Response — he doesn't know if they were illegal.
Information provided to him by the Israeli people he talked with led him to think Israeli actions were legal.

2. My friend and neighbor Bruce Ramsey, who works for The Seattle Times and who has met with you, would like to join the meeting. Would that be agreeable? Response — it is our preference that Mr. Ramsey not attend the meeting because he represents the press. If he attends, we feel obligated to invite other press members and then the meeting will become a press event. The mere presence of the press will interfere with candid discussions between you, other attendees and Attorney General McKenna. We want this meeting to be with constituents and not the press. Thank you for asking and understanding.

Mr. Sacks, I will be retiring next week and suggest that you contact my replacement (Mr. Randy Pepple) with further questions regarding this matter. ... Thank you and good luck in your endeavors.

Sincerely,

MICHAEL L. BIGELOW Chief of Staff MLB/sr