Jerusalem: United In Conflict

Yossi Klein Halevi (Commentary, Aug. 20) repeated the myths of the hard-line Israeli position, including the assumption that Jerusalem, a city holy to the three Abrahamic faiths, is currently not divided. In my two years in Jerusalem, I often found myself amazed at the complete lack of coexistence. Palestinians and Israelis live on opposite sides of the city. Those Israelis who have illegally settled in East Jerusalem do not coexist with Palestinians. They are heavily armed, confiscate Palestinian land, live on fortress-like hills, drive different roads, build separate restaurants and then exclude Palestinians as anything but “affordable” gardeners and housekeepers.

This is East Jerusalem as it has existed since the illegal Israeli occupation in 1967. The failure to acknowledge the inherent inequity is, in large part, responsible for the frustration that has led Palestinians toward the path of resistance. If we can acknowledge this as one of the primary roots of the current unrest, then perhaps we can go about finding a just solution. Stripping Palestinians of their few remaining rights can only lead to further injustice and bloodshed.

Helen Grant

Program Coordinator, American Committee

on Jerusalem, Washington

I’m not sure which “we Americans” Michael Hamud is referring to (letter, Aug. 17). That we, as Americans, would be doing no less than the Palestinians are doing is completely contradictory to the concept of being an American, unless your name was Timothy McVeigh. We Americans don’t strap bombs to our bodies and target innocent women, children and babies to protest injustice. And if we do, we are not held out to be martyrs. We are given the benefit of a democratic justice system and punished for our illegal and immoral acts if found guilty. We solve injustice through democratic means. It’s not always fast and it’s not perfect, but it does work.

As an American, I would suggest that we support the democratic, free nations of the world and not those that are run by despots, terrorists or dictators.

Barry Weiss

North Hollywood

Without stepping into the quagmire of one-sided explanations of which side is right in the Middle East conflict, the fact is that, as in a parking lot where no two cars can occupy the same spot at the same time, no two separate groups of people can occupy the same land at the same time. Why is that so difficult to comprehend?

Robert H. Schrynemakers

Torrance