Middle East Peace Process

The Times’ Dec. 3 editorial poses a frightening solution to the lethargic Mideast peace negotiations. The worst possible scenario would be for the exasperated U.S. to state its own settlement conditions. The Israelis are far more competent and would negotiate with skill and effectiveness once they felt a necessity to do so.

The U.S. position as indulgent patron has not encouraged serious Israeli peace efforts. If we froze our economic and military aid at present levels, to be reduced in 10% increments over 10 years, the imaginative solutions to rigid positions would be remarkable. We could invoke this discipline while maintaining our guarantee that Israel will not lose a war.

The principal barriers to such a solution are career politicians whose spines and sinews are liquefied by the fear of the American-Israeli Political Action Committee. What a pity!

WM. S. PATTERSON

Palm Desert

* There is a simple solution to the crisis. Ask Nelson Mandela to come to Israel and explain how apartheid was ended in South Africa, and to tell the Palestinians that violence will get them nowhere.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can build all the apartments he wishes, as long as half the units are allocated to Palestinians. The Israelis and Palestinians will have to learn to live together as they did before 1948. Unfortunately, fanatics and extremists take over and frighten moderates, but the future world must guard against abuse of authority, and reconcile rather than separate peoples if we all are to survive.

RICHARD N. FRYE

Emeritus Professor of Iranian

Harvard University