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August 20, 2004/Elul 3 5764, Vol. 56, No.48
Letters to the EditorAugust 20, 2004
Strength does matterEditor:Your editorial "When strength matters" (Jewish News, Aug. 13) criticizes President George W. Bush for not actively pushing forward an Israeli/Palestinian Peace process as the Clinton administration did. Unfortunately, the failure of the Clinton approach led to the intifada, which resulted in hundreds of innocent Israelis being murdered. It brought Israel and Palestinians no closer to peace - in fact, just the opposite. Bush has marginalized Yasser Arafat, a man who absolutely does not want peace. Bush has supported Israeli action against Palestinian violence. His approach to establishing peace seems to be much more effective than Clinton's (or Dennis Ross'), judging by the reduction in Israelis killed and the loss of Palestinians' enthusiasm for leaders not willing to peacefully coexist with Israel. Israel is at the point of imposing peace by physically isolating the Palestinians. Given Palestinian hostility, this is the best that can be hoped for. Perhaps, in the future, something better will be attainable. Bush is exhibiting real strength when dealing with the Israel/Palestinian conflict. What could be done better? Based on the Bush administration's positive results, real strength of principles rather than empty words is what matters most. Howard Levine Cave Creek Editor: Your editorial "When strength matters" concludes that Jews should support Kerry, because unlike Bush he will continue Clinton's efforts at negotiation with the Palestinians and the Arabs. This is based on the premise that Dennis Ross knows whereof he speaks when he claims that Oslo and the Clinton negotiations failed because of Arafat's personality. I don't think this is true. From the day Israel was re-established in 1948, the Arabs have been attempting to destroy the Jewish state. Arafat's actions were only a continuance of this policy. There is no reason to think it has changed. In fact, just the opposite is true. We are faced with a civil war in the Muslim world in which people like Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden want to shape Islam into an aggressive force that will destroy Israel and take as much of the West as it can. Unless and until these people are defeated and peaceful leaders gain the ascendancy in the Muslim world, there will be no peace for Israel, and the rest of the world will be in peril. George Bush knows this and has acted to stop these dangerous people. Kerry doesn't have a clue. The thought of electing a Democratic administration that will take advice from Dennis Ross is truly scary. If people want to help Israel, they should vote for Bush. Sandor Shuch Phoenix Casting blame for intifadaEditor:Why do you keep subjecting your readers to Dennis Ross' pitiful attempt to gloss over his many mistakes of the Oslo peace process ("Where do we go from here," Jewish News, Aug. 6)? Recently he even gave credence to Yossi Beilin's Geneva Accord Plan. "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me." Dennis Ross has been fooled so many times it leaves me wondering why his words are still printable. I believe Ross' blunders ultimately created the chaos of the intifada, costing 1,000 Israeli lives and thousands of Israelis wounded. He should stay out of the peacemaking business. Irv Shuman Phoenix URJ acting irresponsiblyEditor:Recently the Union for Reform Judaism urged the White House to step up its peace efforts in the Middle East. Its recommendations were outlined in a letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell from Rabbi David Saperstein, the Reform movement's top representative in Washington. The letter:
Given the extreme complexities of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, the hostility of the world against Israel and Jews, and the precariousness of our existence as a people, the URJ position is unforgivable. Reform Jews who disagree with it should let Powell know that the URJ does not speak for them. If the URJ does not stop meddling in Israel's affairs, congregants should insist that their temples disaffiliate with the national body, or they should change temples. Harris Caplan Tempe
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