‘Road Map’ to Peace Favors Land for Israel

Re “Israeli, Palestinian Leaders Jointly Vow to Pursue Peace,” July 2: The “road map” to peace proposed by the Bush administration is the same anti-Arab road map that created the partition of Palestine for an Israeli state in the first place, without any guarantees for the return of more than 4 million Palestinian refugees to democratically participate in the outcome of their own future, who have a right under the Fourth Geneva Convention to return to their lands seized by Israel during the 1948, 1956 and 1967 wars.

The American taxpayer has funded Israel with billions of dollars for its ongoing religious land claims, and any meeting of Israeli and Palestinian leaders to pursue peace has to acknowledge the continuing collusion by the U.S. and Israel to solidify land claims that favor Israel. It is a road map for the defeat of the Geneva Convention and protections against land seizures committed by nations that are in violation of international law.

David N. Seaman

Long Beach

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Re “Israeli Tanks Leave Ruins and Anger in Their Wake,” July 1: Beit Hanoun in Gaza was a launching pad for terror and missile attacks against Israeli towns. Israel seized it to prevent those attacks. Numerous buildings were used to manufacture weapons, hide arms and house terrorists. Two and a half years ago at Camp David, Israel offered the Palestinians a state in Gaza, the West Bank and parts of Jerusalem. Yasser Arafat’s only answer to the Israeli proposal was a wave of terror. If there is destruction in Gaza, the Palestinians should blame themselves.

David Eliezrie

Yorba Linda

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Re “A New Lull, and New Hope,” editorial, July 1: When did Israel become the 51st state that “must exercise discipline not to retaliate when provoked by terrorists.” Israel must be allowed to protect itself and retaliate against its enemies just as the U.S. has done in Afghanistan and Iraq. If we are going to make demands on how it behaves, then let’s do what we would do if New York were attacked, as it was, and send in forces to protect and retaliate against the terrorists, as we have done.

John Alexander

Charline Alexander

Rancho Palos Verdes