Israelis and Palestinians

After all the media Israel-bashing lately, it was gratifying to read Rubin’s article presenting a more realistic view of the Middle East problems. Our Bush-Baker policy is so self-defeating and foolish, in addition to again emphasizing the double standard we seem to apply only to Israel.

The U.S demanded that the PLO stop using terrorism before we would negotiate with it. Therefore, we can’t recognize any of its terrorist acts, obvious as they are, or we’d have to abandon our peace-process policy. How self-defeating.

Israel needs little prodding to seek peace. Her yearning and need for peace is open and well-known, even to the extent of the fall of her government. It’s the Arab side that refuses to be satisfied with the whole nation of Jordan as its Arab-Palestinian state, and continues to demand Israel-granted land west of the Jordan River.

Let’s encourage our Administration to be evenhanded in its Middle East peace policy. IRVING E. FRIEDMAN

Laguna Niguel