Israel’s Treaty With Jordan

* Kamal Naffa’s article, “A Treaty Must Be More Than Words” (Commentary, Nov. 23), speaks eloquently of the ambivalent Jordanian response to the recent Israel-Jordan treaty. It’s difficult for most Americans and Israelis to appreciate the reign of skepticism and suspicion and the reluctance of many Arabs and Arab Americans (Islamic fundamentalists aside) to fully accept the peace accords. We must understand why this remains so.

We also agree, strongly, that the peace process must work quickly to work at all. The Mideast partners in growing dialogue must move forward or assuredly they will be moved backward. Naffa certainly is right in saying that Israelis and Arabs everywhere must also come to grips with mutual, destructive stereotypes and mythologies of war. But he falls prey, himself, to stereotypes of all-powerful Israel (and American Jewry) holding all of the cards.

Israelis must, indeed, understand the necessity to maintain a Palestinian sense of moving forward to better, more secure days in which they can determine their own future in their own homeland. For Israelis to be able to do that, however, more Arabs still must come to recognize the absolute necessity for Israelis to feel physically secure in their homeland. Having the most powerful military in the region has little to do with an individual’s security.

Many of us Jews and Arabs are engaged in exactly the kind of dialogue and advocacy with our respective communities for which Naffa pleads. A Los Angeles-based Arab-Jewish Speakers Bureau has been dispatching teams of us to Arab and Jewish (and other) venues to discuss issues and mutual perceptions. Americans can and must play a role--with our government and with our own communities.

JERRY FREEDMAN HABUSH

L.A. Regional Director

Americans for Peace Now

* Naffa’s comments about the Israel-Jordan peace treaty are misleading and historically inaccurate. As a “Jordanian-American” he worries about the fate of the Palestinians. The professor should be reminded that from 1948-1967, Jordan never partitioned off a piece of land for the Palestinians. It was only in 1967 (after the Six-Day War) that Israel acquired the West Bank. This occurred thanks to King Hussein, who was asked by Israel not to enter the war.

Naffa is also concerned about restitution. What about restitution for more than 800,000 Jews who have been forced to flee Arab countries since 1948?

And Jerusalem. Always Jerusalem. Does Naffa, as a Jordanian, recall that Jews were forbidden to visit the Western Wall in Jerusalem when Hussein was in control? Do readers know that Hussein built a palace on a Jewish cemetery overlooking the old city?

The reality is that Jordan will be better off with Israel as a friend than most if not all of its Arab neighbors. Why wait for Syria?

STEVEN WEINSTOCK

Los Angeles