Is the Time Ripe for Mideast Peace?

Re “Bush Holds the Key to Mideast Peace,” Commentary, Oct. 29: Daoud Kuttab’s comments are constructive. Before President Bush can hope for success in bringing peace to the Middle East, however, the U.S. must announce a clearly neutral policy toward the adversaries and back up our words with deeds. Otherwise we will continue to be seen as biased toward Israel, thus making it impossible for Yasser Arafat to accept the compromises that will be required for a settlement.

Bush should start by extending the same courtesies to Arafat as he has to Ariel Sharon. We should stop supplying arms to Israel, reduce financial aid to Israel and increase financial aid to Palestine, support sending neutral observers to the West Bank and Gaza and otherwise make it clear that we are no longer willing to oppose every U.N. action that is displeasing to Israel. Only then can we hope for success.

Marshall Foreman

San Diego

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Included in Kuttab’s well-thought-out commentary are observations about the current time being a prime opportunity for peace to start, that military might is inadequate to enforce a unilateral peace and that neither side is going away. Unfortunately, Kuttab makes one great error in suggesting that the U.S. is required to “end the misery.” Despite the United States’ power and “moral authority” (which in itself is not a universally accepted tenet), there can be no lasting peace if it is imposed by outside entities. Peace will only come to the Middle East when Israelis and Palestinians desire it, create it and live it.

William L. Moon

La Habra Heights

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What Avi Davis ignores (Commentary, Oct. 26) is that now is one of those times when Israel must take one step back in order later to take two steps forward. Israelis will never be secure as long as groups such as Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine enjoy the support of the Muslim world. The building of a broad consensus against terrorism in any form must take precedence over Israel’s frustration and desire for revenge.

Israel misreads U.S. public opinion if it thinks the failure of this U.S. initiative against terrorism (especially if that failure is seen to be a result of its intransigence) would not adversely affect both the U.S. ability and desire to continue its support. Israel should significantly ease the restrictions imposed on the Palestinians.

Bernard Springer

Encino