Ehud Barak

Re “Barak Is Elected Israeli Leader by a Landslide,” May 18:

Ehud Barak must lead his nation toward peace without compromising the security of Israel. He should be cautious in dealing with President Clinton, who is desperately striving to find some solace in a shattered legacy. The decisions that influence the future of Israel must be made in Jerusalem and not in Washington.

RAY ACKERMAN

Los Angeles

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While Palestinians over the years have experienced Israel’s Labor and Likud parties in a manner akin to choosing Coke or Pepsi, as far as their dispossession and subjugation is concerned, the defeat of Benjamin Netanyahu must come like a pause that refreshes.

Could the election results signal a ray of hope today, conciliation with Palestinians tomorrow and acting justly toward them the day after tomorrow? Wouldn’t that be a marvelous turn-of-the-century and millennium gift to the world!

DARREL MEYERS

Burbank

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The Times’ reference (May 15) to Barak, “despite his record as a killer of Arabs, he sat down to peace talks alongside Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres,” is grossly distorted. Barak fought in the Israeli army against attacking Arab armies from Egypt, Jordan and Syria and against Palestinian terrorists (including those from Yasser Arafat’s PLO) who had killed Israeli civilians.

Now that Egypt, Jordan and some Palestinians have stopped making war against Israel, it is possible for Israel to implement peace agreements with them. Without an end to Arab violence, peace was not possible.

ROBERT KIRK

Los Angeles

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Due to the terrible economy stewarded by defeated Prime Minister Netanyahu, “it’s the economy, stupid,” works in Israeli politics, too.

HOWARD COHEN

North Hills

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Netanyahu ran a confrontational, arrogant, cynical campaign. He defeated himself.

DON RADEMACHER

Glendale