Trading Land for Peace

This is in response to allegations that the Bush Administration would hold back loan guarantees to Israel to help cover part of the enormous cost of resettling thousands of immigrants unless Israel halts settlements in Judea, Samaria and Gaza. Frankly, I’m disgusted at this sort of political blackmail! The two issues are in no way related. First, Israel has no policy of directing immigrants to the territories. Second, the loan guarantees are strictly an issue of humanitarian assistance.

While President Bush has a right to his own opinion, he has no right to force it on another country. Israel is one of our strongest allies. Keeping good relations shouldn’t mean Israel always having to say, “Yes, sir!”

SCOTT SIMON

Hidden Hills