Palestinians

I agree with Laila El-Haddad that the Palestinians have been betrayed by Judge Richard Goldstone ("Palestinians betrayed by Judge Goldstone," April 18), but I might add that they have been betrayed by others as well, particularly the Obama administration. The Obama administration recently jumped at the opportunity to attack Moammar Gadhafi's government in Libya, and even had the audacity to claim it was to protect the civilian population. Does anyone remember hearing a peep out of Obama -- or anyone else in the administration -- when Israel was decimating Gaza and its civilian population during Operation Cast Lead?

Given how low the expectations were for President Barack Obama's highly publicized trip to the Middle East, it may not be saying much to declare that he exceeded them. But given the precarious state of Israeli-Palestinian relations, it would also be easy to underappreciate just how crucial his efforts may prove to be in the long quest for a lasting peace in the Middle East. When Mr. Obama arrived in Israel, he faced many who believed that the possibility of a two-state solution was on its death bed, if not gone already.

Palestinians have been firing dozens of rockets from Gaza into southern Israel recently, hitting cities and civilians ("Palestinians to seek elevated status in U.N.," Nov. 13). Yet not much attention has been given to the fact that Israeli families who have been living in constant fear of terror attacks and rockets from Gaza are now hunkering down in their bomb shelters. The media and the international community seemed to ignore the constant rocket attacks on civilians by Hamas, a terrorist organization that receives money and weapons from Iran.

Neil Simon's column on the new U.S.-Russia trade law could not be further from the truth when it states that Sen. Benjamin Cardin has "catapulted human rights atop the international agenda ("Cardin stands up for rights," Dec. 12). Senator Cardin talks about freedom and democracy for everyone except the Palestinians, who have been suffering under a brutal Israeli occupation for 45 years. They have been victims of land and water theft, home demolitions, targeted assassinations, mass arrests, torture and a blockade of Gaza that is strangling the civilian population.

The Rev. James W. Dale suggests that "The harder way, I believe, is the way of continuing to demand that both sides must come to the table if there is ever to be a lasting peace with justice" ("Choosing to stay engaged," May 4). This in contrast to pressuring Israel through divestment from Israeli companies profiting from the occupation. Unfortunately, the Palestinians have endured many, many years of "coming to the table," with the only result being more and more confiscation of their land and water resources.

Very few things unite Democratic and Republican senators in Washington. But unfortunately, one thing that does is attacking the human rights of Palestinians. And now they're are at it again. This time in the form of an anti-Palestinian amendment sponsored by Sens. Charles Schumer, Robert Menendez, John Barrasso and Lindsey Graham that would punish the government of Palestine for seeking United Nations recognition and heavily sanction it if it petitions the International Criminal Court for Justice.

Gerald Otten and others appear to have forgotten the history of the Middle East ("The United Nations created a Jewish state; it can also create a Palestinian one," May 31). The United Nations did act on Palestinian statehood in 1947; two states were created by the declaration. However, the so-called Palestinians rejected their statehood by attacking the Jewish state alongside the surrounding Arab states, and afterward by choosing to live on UN handouts in refugee camps instead of creating their own state in the territories they possessed.

Your editorial suggesting that United Nations recognition of Palestine will put pressure on Israel to resume peace talks is a naive repetition of the myth that Palestinians actually want peace with Israel ("Pressure on Israel to negotiate," Nov. 30). The Palestinian charter calls for the destruction of Israel, not "living side by side in peace" with it as you state. The charter of Hamas is even more explicit. How can you negotiate with an entity that has sworn your destruction?

It's unlikely Obama will ever "sell out" Israel. However, he is doing some much-needed consciousness-raising. The American people have been brainwashed for over half a century about the facts surrounding the creation of the state of Israel and its current expansionist policies, such as the settlement push, that have infuriated the country's neighbors. Frankly, I have tired of the Middle East altogether and just wish my tax dollars could be spent elsewhere. I've watched the U.S. shell out trillions to countries halfway around the world when the entire region would have been better off without our meddling.

Israel and the Palestinians are on a collision course this week, as the government of Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas prepares to unilaterally seek United Nations recognition of an independent Palestinian state. If Mr. Abbas goes through with his plan, it would force the U.S. to use its veto on the Security Council to block the proposal, which it has promised to do - but which would also leave it in a far weaker position to influence events in the region. U.S. officials are desperately hoping to avoid such an outcome, but at this point the best they may be able to do is limit the damage.

Your editorial suggesting that United Nations recognition of Palestine will put pressure on Israel to resume peace talks is a naive repetition of the myth that Palestinians actually want peace with Israel ("Pressure on Israel to negotiate," Nov. 30). The Palestinian charter calls for the destruction of Israel, not "living side by side in peace" with it as you state. The charter of Hamas is even more explicit. How can you negotiate with an entity that has sworn your destruction?

Very few things unite Democratic and Republican senators in Washington. But unfortunately, one thing that does is attacking the human rights of Palestinians. And now they're are at it again. This time in the form of an anti-Palestinian amendment sponsored by Sens. Charles Schumer, Robert Menendez, John Barrasso and Lindsey Graham that would punish the government of Palestine for seeking United Nations recognition and heavily sanction it if it petitions the International Criminal Court for Justice.

Op-ed contributor G. Jefferson Price recently quoted the "prominent" Israeli journalist Gideon Levy to support his argument that an Israeli invasion of Gaza would be unwise ("For Israel, it's different this time," Nov. 20). Mr. Levy is better described as a vocal, radical journalist who represents a small group of radical Israeli leftists. He views the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a very narrow, one-sided, biased prism. For him, the ultimate truth is that Israel is always the aggressor and the Palestinians are always the victims.

Over the strenuous objections of the U.S. and Israel, the United Nations General Assembly voted today to grant nonmember observer status to a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza. The U.N. action, which was widely anticipated, was largely a symbolic move that does nothing to change the situation on the ground or lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. But it does raise international pressure on Israel to show it is serious about reaching a negotiated settlement, while allowing Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to claim a historic advance in his people's quest for global recognition.

Op-ed contributor G. Jefferson Price III ("For Israel, it's different this time," Nov. 20) alleges that "Israeli leaders have consistently obstructed and resisted arrangements that would have brought a dignified peace to the region. " As in 2000 and 2001, when with the United States, Israel offered Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat a West Bank and Gaza Strip state with eastern Jerusalem as its capital in exchange for peace - but he refused and launched the second intifada? As in 2001, when Israel and the United States repeated the deal, but Arafat continued the terror war?

In the film "Groundhog Day," Bill Murray wakes up each morning and relives the previous day. A similar scenario is playing out in the Middle East between Israel and her enemies. The deadly "movie" always goes like this: Israel is shelled or attacked by terrorists groups, often called "militants" by the media, each one with the same goal: Israel's elimination. After demonstrating considerable restraint of the kind that would never be tolerated by any other nation, Israel fires back.

The Palestinians will always remain people with a just cause. Hostilities between Israel and the Arabs will not cease unless Arab rights are guaranteed and the conflict is resolved without changing the power balance in the region.If Israel is the biggest military power in the region now, it will not be able to defeat the Arabs in the long run because time is not in its favor. The Palestinian case must be settled permanently either by durable peace or long-term war. The Palestinians will always be instruments for explosion if their rights are not given back to them and the injustice that has befallen them will always be a point of friction.

Regarding Andrew C. Mills' letter on Israel and Iran, he is correct thatIsrael's long-term security can be achieved only with a comprehensive settlement with the Palestinians ("Israel's future hinges on compromise, not attacks," Feb. 11). An attack on Iran would be a grave mistake for all concerned, but most especially for Israel. It should be considered a very last resort. However, Mr. Mills is wrong in stating that Israel is holding the American people "hostage" by refusing to provide "substantive offers" to the Palestinians.

Hamas, a terrorist organization that receives money and weapons from Iran, has lately escalated its assaults, which are intended to terrorize and kill civilians ("Israeli strike kills 11 in Gaza," Nov. 19). Palestinians have been firing dozens of rockets every day from Gaza, hitting cities and civilians. Israel finally retaliated to protect its civilians and launched retaliatory airstrikes on Hamas commanders. Article 51 of the UN charter indicates the "inherent right" of self-defense against armed attack, and I hope the Obama administration and the international community provide adequate support to Israel to defend itself.

Palestinians have been firing dozens of rockets from Gaza into southern Israel recently, hitting cities and civilians ("Palestinians to seek elevated status in U.N.," Nov. 13). Yet not much attention has been given to the fact that Israeli families who have been living in constant fear of terror attacks and rockets from Gaza are now hunkering down in their bomb shelters. The media and the international community seemed to ignore the constant rocket attacks on civilians by Hamas, a terrorist organization that receives money and weapons from Iran.