Israeli Coalition and Arafat

Arafat’s recent peace initiative needs to be examined in greater detail. So far it has been merely a public relations campaign designed to show the U.S. government that he is capable of verbally recognizing reality--that Israel actually exists and that the date today is 1988 and not 1947. This incredible act of “moderation” is long on rhetoric and unfortunately short on intent.

What Arafat lacks is any reason for the Israeli public to believe him.

What they see is a man who publicly renounces “terrorism,” only to have his deputy Abu Iyad tell his troops that cross-border raids directed against Israeli “military targets” will continue and that the PLO will not rest until the Palestinian flag is flying over the Jewish holy sites in the old city of Jerusalem.

There are over 600,000 Palestinians now living in Israel proper who are citizens with the right to vote and own property. When will Jews be allowed to live, travel and worship peacefully in any Arab countries?

The West Bank will never be turned over to any Palestinian leader who cannot lead or control his own soldiers. Until Arafat expels those elements in his organization who will never agree to a cease fire and those “freedom fighters” who think that any Jew--from babies to the elderly and any synagogue--is a “military target,” there is no one in the PLO to negotiate with.

STEVEN SCHOENBERG

Los Angeles