“Message de Jacques Derrida” originally appeared in Le Voyage en Palestine, edited by Russell Banks, Breyten Breytenbach, Juan Goytisolo et al. (Castlenau-le-lez: Editions Climats, 2002), 123–36. This essay incorporates the previously published “Nous?” that appeared in Un tres proche Orient. Paroles de paix, edited by Joëlle Losfeld (Paris: Dada, 2001), 52–5.

Responding to the request of Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, this is Derrida's message for/to the Delegation of the International Parliament of Writers convened in Ramallah in spring 2002 in the Occupied Territories.

Dear friends, Without neglecting any difference or any singularity, I would like to speak here to those, Palestinians or Israelis, who in my eyes have the exemplary courage, having taken all the risks, of publicly testifying, in speech, in writing, in political and poetic engagement, about the necessity of opposing the forces of death, terror, and armed repression, wherever they might come from, from an instituted State or a State on the way to institution.

At the time when I must, with so much regret and sadness, push back for a few weeks the meeting that I was dreaming about, allow me to address you an affectionate and warm greeting from the bottom of my heart. Before speaking about the promises and hopes that I would like to share with you today, Palestinians or Israelis, allow me to mention some memories among those most dear to me, and which we doubtless have in common, at least some of you, and I.