Letters to the Editor6/5/1998
Clinton puts pressure on the wrong sideEditor:Is President Clinton really, as he claims, "the best friend Israel ever had?" When the Oslo Peace Accord was signed, both Israel and the Palestinians made binding promises. Because the peace talks are stalled, Clinton believes it necessary to bring pressure on Israel to give up more West Bank land to the Palestinians. Should Israel comply? Israel has already given 37 percent of the West Bank, encompassing 97 percent of the Palestinian population, to the Palestinians. They have built an airport for the Palestinians in Gaza, have planned a road connecting Gaza and the West Bank area, provided arms for the Palestinian police, and have provided monetary funds to the Palestinians and convinced other nations to contribute funds as well. And what have Yasser Arafat and the Palestinians done to comply with the Oslo peace accord? They have not revoked their Palestinian covenant calling for Israel's destruction as promised. They were to provide security but allowed terrorists to run rampant, resulting in 250 Israeli deaths since Oslo. Some terrorists were arrested, particularly when American diplomats were scheduled to come, but almost all were released soon after, some to positions in the police force and some to resume their terrorist activities. Arafat has eulogized the worst terrorists as "martyrs" and has said he hopes to join them. Not one terrorist has been turned over to Israel as required. Palestinian children are taught on Palestinian TV, in a "Sesame Street" format, to hate Israel and Jews, and to glorify terrorist bombings of Israelis. They have increased their police force to more than twice that permitted by Oslo and have surreptitiously supplied them with forbidden weapons including shoulder-held rockets. Arafat's speeches in Arabic reveal his plans to take over all Israel. He calls the Oslo Accord a "temporary truce" and says "everyone must know that all options are open and not just (to) the Palestinian people but before the entire Arab nation." Arafat says he wants to emulate Mohammed, who made a 10-year peace treaty with an enemy he destroyed two years later in a surprise attack after strengthening his forces. Does this sound like someone who is striving to bring about peace with Israel? Or someone intent on destroying her? By pressuring Israel, but not the Palestinians, to give up more, Clinton encourages Arafat to make greater demands. In view of Palestinian non-compliance, how can any reasonable person expect Israel to give up more land, thereby laying the ground for her own destruction? On which of these two parties should President Clinton bring pressure to comply with Oslo? The White House opinion line is (202) 456-1414. M. Herbert Nathan, M.D. Phoenix Holocaust survivors thank congregationsEditor:To all of the congregations in Greater Phoenix, thank you for your support of the Phoenix Holocaust Survivors' Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) commemoration, held April 19. The local survivors' group has done whatever has been needed to keep their city-wide commemoration afloat Please mark your calendars for next year's commemoration Laurence Lebovitz, president Phoenix Holocaust Survivors' Association |
