Mideast Talks

Perhaps America can use Benjamin Netanyahu’s refusal to participate in a Middle East summit (May 9-11) as an opportunity to right the horrible wrong done 50 years ago when the U.S. and most of the rest of Europe legitimized Zionism by recognizing the so-called state of Israel. In so doing, the West (through its surrogate, the United Nations) attempted to legitimize the theft of Palestine from its indigenous populace, i.e., the Palestinians.

Now would be an opportune time for the West to withdraw its diplomatic recognition of the racist, apartheid settler state, Israel, and recognize in its stead the Palestinian Authority as the sole representative of all the people of Palestine, from the West Bank to Gaza.

RONALD O. RICHARDS

Los Angeles

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Ceding more land to the PLO will enable Yasser Arafat to declare a state, which is a certain recipe for disaster in our corner of the world. An irredentist, belligerent Palestinian state will be free to rearm itself to the hilt and threaten Israel’s existence by allying itself with Israel’s enemies.

Is this President Clinton’s and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright’s goal for the Middle East--another Yugoslavia?

MENACHEM BLOCH

Bar Ilan University

Ramat-Gan, Israel

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Land for peace was the basis for an agreement signed by Israel, the PLO and the United States. Israel now wants to renege on its agreement and keep the land and have peace as well. If Netanyahu digs his heels in for 12 months for only 2% of the land, will he ever be serious about the final settlement involving a lot more land?

It is time that Congress puts U.S. interests and U.S. credibility before Israeli interests. Shame on both the Democrats and the Republicans for not having the guts to stand up to the Israeli lobby and do what is right for the U.S. and the world.

JAMSHED H. DASTUR

Balboa Island

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The U.S. assured Israel that after Hebron was handed back to the Palestinians, Arafat would be required to fully comply with the Oslo accords before any further moves would be required by Israel. This has not happened. Illegal arms have not been confiscated by Arafat, nor have murderers been extradited. The Palestinian Covenant demanding elimination of Israel has not been changed, nor have the violence, threats and anti-Jewish articles emanating from the official Palestinian press abated.

For this, Clinton now wants to reward bad-boy Arafat with 13% more withdrawal on the part of the Israelis, but only if Arafat “promises” to do better in providing security measures in the “future.” A reward given before the deed is done is usually called something else.

MARCY BREGMAN

Valencia

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Re “First Lady Rocks Boat of U.S. Mideast Policy,” May 8: Bravo, Hillary! It took a brave woman to stand up to Netanyahu, the Jewish lobby, Congress and the president to finally express this self-evident truth. There can be no peace in the Middle East without a sovereign Palestinian state. So, how about it, Hillary for president?

RENO S. ZACK

San Dimas