Newt Gingrich

Re “Gingrich Backs Israeli Rejection of U.S. Efforts,” May 27:

It was amazing to read that House Speaker Newt Gingrich stood in the Israeli Knesset and, in opposition to all stated policies of the Clinton administration, pandered to the right-wing extremist fringe of Israelis and stated East Jerusalem is the “united and eternal capital of Israel.” He uttered these words as Palestinian legislators and statesmen were being beaten by Israeli border guards because they were protesting the erection of rogue Jewish settler shacks in the Muslim quarter of Arab East Jerusalem.

It is not surprising that Gingrich is more a Zionist right-winger than most liberal Jews in the United States. He has received $100,434 from pro-Israeli PACs during his political career and his wife was hired by the Israel Export Development Co. in 1995. If Gingrich isn’t registered as a foreign agent for Israel, perhaps Kenneth Starr should look into this.

SAMIR TWAIR, Past President

American-Arab Press Guild

Los Angeles

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If the members of the Knesset really believe a U.S. politician like Gingrich is sincere in his pandering for campaign contributions, then I am pessimistic about their future.

Let The Times publish the “yeas” and “nays” of Congress over the issue of congressional support of [Israeli Prime Minister] Benjamin Netanyahu as stated by Gingrich.

Finally, how will Congress respond to the speaker’s derogatory remarks about Madeleine Albright? He should be censured.

MYRNA JAMES

Corona

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I know The Times is on firm ground criticizing Gingrich for trying to upstage our State Department in Israel (editorial, May 28). But then, having properly rebuked him, you go on to fault Israel for dawdling on the road to peace.

I don’t think it unreasonable for Israel to insist on an end to terrorism before ceding any more land that it acquired in defending itself in the first place. As long as the “destroy Israel” provision remains in the PLO’s charter and as long as they continue blowing up Israelis, why shouldn’t Israel hang tough? Peace, after all, starts with the cessation of hostilities. The world and Israel are waiting for that first step from the Palestinians.

LOUIS S. LYONS

Woodland Hills