Israel’s Likud Rejects a Palestinian State

Re “Party Rebuffs Sharon Over Palestinians,” May 13: I thought Prime Minister Ariel Sharon showed the worst extent of Israeli extremism, but after the vote by the Likud Party denying the Palestinians a state of their own, I see that the Israeli right is actually much worse. When will we wake up to the fact that the Israelis are not looking to destroy terrorists but are seeking to keep the Palestinians in virtual bondage by annexing their land and denying them rights?

Andrew Haystead

Ventura

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I loved your front-page picture on Sunday of thousands of Israelis rallying for peace with the Palestinians. Now I would love to see a picture of thousands of Palestinians from any country rallying for peace with Israel. C’mon, guys.

Janice Kenner

Rancho Palos Verdes

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What an incredible photo essay on the Church of the Nativity by Carolyn Cole (May 11). My husband and I always wanted to visit Bethlehem and never got the chance, but now we feel that at least we have seen a part of this great church. The photograph of the corner of the sanctuary is especially poignant, with the Palestinians asleep and the sun shining through the window; it belies the fact that outside there is still so much violence.

A true test of a good journalist is one who truly lives the story. Thank you for transporting us to the birthplace of Christ, if only for a minute.

Cecelia and Cliff Waeschle

Malibu

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Cole’s golden photos have placed terrorists in the hallowed light of martyrs. It was not a church siege but a terrorist takeover. Cole’s “first person” photo op may be exciting and advantageous for her, but the “heroes” she beautifies are murderers. Shame on her and The Times.

Ruth Rosen

Santa Monica

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I would like to congratulate Cole for excellent coverage of the Bethlehem siege from inside the church. Her reports, photographs and interviews portray a very human side of the story.

Arani Sinha

Los Angeles

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Over 200 Palestinian men--many heavily armed--smoked, ate, slept, strewed trash and, apparently, urinated in almost every room of Christianity’s most holy church. These men put the existence of this sacred place in jeopardy. Even worse, they jeopardized the lives of holy men from three different Christian branches.

These men were not seeking sanctuary; the 13 accused of committing heinous crimes were evading capture, and the remaining men, either willingly or not, were acting as human shields. Cole reports spotting 50 cell phones and states that many of these men left to get supplies and then came back. These men were a cell-phone call away from safely leaving. Shame on those who have allowed suicide murders and willful desecration of holy sites to become legitimate forms of protest.

Nasser Radparvar

Los Angeles