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June 14, 2002/Tamuz 4 5762, Vol. 54, No. 39
Letters to the EditorJune 14, 2002
World should admire IsraelEditor:Dr. Mohamed Jasser in his article "Hopes that Rabin's peace plan will prevail" (Jewish News, May 10), displays a sincere sensitivity to the needless suffering prevalent in Israel at the hands of terrorist murderers, and for this I am most appreciative. However, I disagree with Jasser's message about Israel's response to terror with terror itself. Israel's response has been to invade the West Bank in an attempt to capture known terrorist leaders and to destroy bomb and missile factories. Yasser Arafat deserves no sympathy. He supports the hatred and slaughtering of innocent Jewish people and the destruction of the State of Israel. Jasser states that "peace cannot come from the barrel of a gun," but he neglects to realize that Israel would have long ago been obliterated had it not have defended itself. Despite boycotts, military invasions and hostile attitudes from surrounding nations and the UN, Israel has established a great democracy and a list of accomplishments such as humanitarian projects, a superior system of education, medicine, the arts and sciences. Wouldn't it be logical for valid regimes to admire this and desire to be friends with Israelis? I hope that in time attitudes will change. Finally the Palestinians will be ready to be a new democracy existing and thriving as a friendly neighbor of Israel. Murray Schreiber Phoenix Land for peaceEditor:Let's consider the proposals the Arab states have made regarding the terms under which they will call a halt to attacks on Israel and recognize Israel's right to exist. They demand the return to pre-1967 borders and in turn they promise peace and Israel's recognition as a legitimate state. Israel should propose the following to the Arabs: If any further attacks are made on the Israeli populace, Israel will immediately reduce the size of the area the Palestinians now occupy. For each attack upon Israel, an area of Palestinian land would be occupied by Israeli forces, and any Palestinian populace in that area would be forced to move out and buildings would be bulldozed to create vacant land. The area to be so treated would be designated in square mileage for each attack and the land reclaimed to be Israeli territory. The Palestinians will realize they are losing land for peace and their behavior can be costly. In addition, Israel will return this land only if the attacks stop and peace is maintained. So far, all Israeli countermeasures to stop Palestinian attacks have not been effective, so let's try another approach. Israel has nothing to lose by doing so. Walter Rand Phoenix Ra'anana perfect choice for Phoenix's sisterEditor:After having read "Phoenix seeks sister city" (Jewish News, May 31) on Phoenix's search for a sister city in Israel, we would like to nominate Ra'anana. It is a lovely city about ten miles east of Hertzalia. The government of the city is quite progressive and has gone out of its way to ensure that there are many parks and green areas in spite of a large amount of development. There are many English-speaking citizens living there. Additionally, in a city with 60 Orthodox synagogues, a new Reform temple has just been inaugurated. We strongly recommend that Ra'anana be considered as Phoenix's sister city. Arthur and Bobby Sheppard Phoenix
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