Sharon Visit Touches Off Rioting
Former Israeli Defense Forces Gen. Ariel Sharon disgraced Israel and mocked the holiest of Jewish holidays by “visiting” an area sacred to both Muslims and Jews (Sept. 29-Oct. 2). He knew exactly what would happen as a result of his presence. Now we have at least a dozen innocent Palestinians murdered by Israel’s army, and we have at least 500 Muslims wounded. If Sharon had wanted to disrupt the peace process, he should have thought of another strategy. Murder has no place in negotiations. Nor is it sanctioned in the Jewish religion.
DON PIERSTORFF
Costa Mesa
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I commend The Times for carrying an emotionally powerful photo of the persecution of Palestinians on its front page (Oct. 1)--a father shielding his 12-year-old son, who was eventually fatally shot, and the father wounded in Israeli cross-fire. While there is no denying that Jews were victims of the Holocaust, today the Jews of Israel appear to be the oppressors of another displaced people.
It is a shame that we Americans permit our politicians so often to freely desecrate our founding ideal of fairness and tradition of support for the oppressed. Israel has been able to hold the U.S.-mediated Israeli-Palestinian peace process ransom to the outcome of the final status of Jerusalem. Sen. Joe Lieber-
XAVIER SWAMIKANNU
Los Angeles
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Please tell me why it is necessary to print the photo of the last terrifying seconds in the life of a little boy.
SHELLY R. PIMPER
Whittier
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