Bush Gets an Easement on Mideast ‘Road Map’

Paul Richter’s news analysis of the relative quiescence of the Israeli lobby needs some fleshing out (“Why Israel Lobby Refrains From Challenging Bush’s ‘Road Map,’ ” May 4). Israelis and Diaspora Jews long for a true and lasting peace. The differences between the dovish and hawkish camps for the most part lie in tactics, with the doves pushing for Israeli concessions as an opening, while the bulk of Israelis want to see significant signs of Palestinian good faith first.

Though the involvement of the traditionally pro-Palestinian Europeans, Russians and the United Nations raises fairness concerns, and the concept of “land for peace” has been tainted by a Palestinian posture of land without peace, there is still a very strong desire to find some way out of the current morass.

To a large extent, President Bush is not being challenged because of this desire and the deep faith he has engendered that he will do the right thing. He has demonstrated an almost unique ability to distinguish right from wrong in a world that often blurs the two in shades of gray. We expect that he will counteract any undue bias of the rest of the “quartet” and that he will hold Palestinians accountable to meet their obligations. Unfortunately, our primary sentiment is pessimism, given the Palestinians’ past record to, as the late Israeli diplomat Abba Eban put it, “never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.”

Larry Eisenberg

Los Angeles

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Your news analysis contains a comment describing Iraq as Israel’s former greatest military threat. Not! Saudi Arabia continues to be the greatest threat to Mideast peace and to the U.S.

Saudi Arabian terrorists attacked the U.S. on 9/11. Saudi Arabia finances Arab terrorist groups that attack Israel.

Phillip Good

Huntington Beach