Two sides on the Israeli fence

Re “Drawn into a blueprint of bias,” Opinion, March 10

UCLA’s relentless Palestinian propagandist Saree Makdisi writes articulately that Israel’s security fence wreaks havoc on Palestinian life. For sure, it’s a shame that such a wall exists and that suffering continues -- on both sides of it.

The Israelis gave up Gaza unilaterally last summer and were thanked in the form of continuing rocket attacks. If they were to undo the wall, what message would that give to the same barbaric folks who perfected the art of suicide bombing?

MARTIN ZUCKER

Canoga Park

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Makdisi’s arguments would draw more water had they touched on the fact that the Israeli wall has demonstrably reduced the number of suicide bombings launched from the Palestinian areas affected by the barrier. The Palestinian electorate has given ample evidence of where its heart lies, as witnessed by the election of a Hamas majority to its governing body.

What part of “we call for the destruction of the state of Israel” doesn’t Makdisi understand?

LOUIS H. NEVEL

Los Angeles

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Thank you for publishing Makdisi’s beautiful Op-Ed article. She confronts issues of human rights, justice, injustice and censorship, particularly relating to the interrelationship of Israel, Palestine and the United States, with sensitivity, clarity, compassion, elegance and power.

UCLA is lucky to have her on its faculty.

JEANIE SHATERIAN

Berkeley