Arab-Israeli Conflict

Alexander Cockburn’s distorted view of the Arab-Israeli conflict (“A U.S. Plan by Israel, for Israel,” Column Left, May 17) completely overlooks the most fundamental question in the Middle East today: When will the Arab nations finally accept Israel’s right to exist?

This is truly the heart of the problem, as demonstrated by the fact that Israel was forced to fight its Arab neighbors not once, but three times, prior to 1967, when the issue of occupied territories and the political future of the Palestinians in those lands had not yet emerged.

Cockburn also ignores the refusal of the Arab nations, particularly Syria, to sit down and conduct face-to-face negotiations with Israel. The real reason Syria wants an international conference under U.N. auspices is to avoid the “painful” reality of dealing directly with Israel.

These continuing hostile actions by the Arab world, with the notable exception of Egypt, show us all too clearly that the proper path toward peace must first begin with the recognition of Israel by the Arab nations. If the United States can accomplish this, peace may well be at hand.

RABBI HARVEY FIELDS, Chair

Commission on the Middle East

Jewish Community Relations Committee

Jewish Federation Council of Greater L.A.