Mideast: Listening for Calls to Peace

It is encouraging to read a joint appeal for peace signed by both an Arab American and a Jewish American (“The Only Hope for Peace,” by George Salem and Marvin Lender, Opinion, March 24). It is more constructive to pave the way toward peace than to debate which side is more to blame for the calamity. The war of mutual destruction has gone on long enough and does not serve either side.

It would be even more encouraging to read a similar joint appeal by Palestinians and Israelis to their respective constituencies. There are similar voices in Israel, politicians like Shimon Peres and Yossi Sarid, intellectuals like Amos Oz and Uri Avneri, and many others--like the soldiers refusing service in the territories. They can be freely heard in Israel.

Where are similar voices on the Palestinian side? All we hear from there is that Hamas and Islamic Jihad will not feel bound by any cease-fire agreement.

A joint resolution by peace-loving Palestinians and Israelis would add strength to U.S. envoy Anthony C. Zinni’s efforts to achieve a reasonable compromise and peace. Without it, his endeavor faces an uphill battle.

Leo Fiderer

Encino

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At least Israelis can feel safe in their homes, a luxury not afforded to Palestinians whose dwellings are repeatedly raided or leveled by the Israeli Defense Forces. Such inflictions only help to breed the desperation and resentment behind suicide acts. Israel could choose to trade its expansionary settlement policy into Palestinian territories for homeland security.

Marwan Saab

Seal Beach

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All the letters and commentary pieces ignore one basic fact. The only difference between Palestinian terrorists and other terrorists is that these terrorists are killing Jews. No other similar group has received so much aid and recognition. No other country has had to tolerate what Israel has to tolerate.

The world is full of Arab lands, much of it empty. But it is Israel that has to trade land for peace. And maybe not a peace at all.

Joel Gafni

Rancho Palos Verdes

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I believe the bells are beginning to toll for Israel as a state or nation. It can’t survive under present world circumstances, and there probably will be a new exodus in the near future. The land means nothing to Yasser Arafat or the Palestinians. Their only meaning is venomous hatred toward the “Jew,” any Jew. While the Bush administration is off cleaning spider webs in Afghanistan, Pakistan and wherever, the spiders are still spinning the real web of hatred for the Jew and the United States. “Mein Kampf” has a new author.

James Frigo

Arcadia