Letters: Palestinian question at issue

I was disappointed to see Newsday publish three letters perpetuating anti-Palestinian and anti-Arab myths ["Naive belief Palestinians want peace," Sept. 21], and none in support of the Palestinians, whose cause has been supported by the likes of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela.

Palestinians have been victims of massive air bombings and ethnic cleansing.

It is a strange rationale that just because Arabs have 21 states, Palestinians should vacate their homeland so that Jews born in Russia and the United States can take over their land.

Israeli strategy has been to make the negotiations drag on, and in the meantime, build more illegal settlements in the occupied territories. It is high time that Israel abide by the United Nations resolutions. After all, it came into existence by a UN declaration. It is also high time that Israel declare its borders, which it has consistently refused to do since its formation. This will lead to a lasting peace and will remove much of the antipathy toward America in Africa and Asia. The world stands at the brink of an economic mega-disaster and we need peace and trade for the world to start prospering again.

President Barack Obama's United Nations speech and a threatened U.S. veto will be seen as hypocritical by the Arabs and the Muslim world. By dashing the hopes of the Muslim youth at a time when they have courageously stood up for freedom and democracy in the Middle East, Obama is losing a golden opportunity to build a peaceful world. He should listen to the voices of moderate Israelis and moderate American Jews who want a just solution for the Middle East.

Abdullah Bajabar, Valley Stream
 

Regarding "The Palestinian gambit" [Editorial, Sept. 18], the two-state solution has been around since Nov. 29, 1947. The United Nations General Assembly divided the land into two states, one for the Jewish people and one for the Arab people. The reality is that none of the Arab states in the area accept the existence of Israel, not then, not now. Any land that is currently Israel, and had not been Israel at the time of the partition, is land won in the multiple wars started by the Arab nations surrounding Israel.

Israel is now, and has always been, the only democracy in the Middle East. Israel is now, and has always been, the only reliable ally the United States has in the Middle East.

We are held hostage to the Arab world by our need and greed for their oil. Does the world really need another Palestinian state, in any configuration? I say not. The United Nations should not only deny any increase in status to the Palestinian Authority, but should place them in talks with Jordan to actually follow the UN resolution already in place since 1947.

Lysa Lopater, North Hills
 

I cannot comprehend how your proposal for the United Nations to declare Palestine a full member is any type of concession made by the Palestinians. If such a proposal were actually adopted, Palestine would become a "member state" in the eyes of the United Nations, but Palestine would not have to recognize Israel. Indeed, many states in the United Nations, such as Iran and Syria, do not recognize Israel.

Palestine would gain everything it wanted under such a proposal and would concede absolutely nothing to Israel. To view this as a compromise is senseless.

Ernest Miller, West Hempstead