Palestinians and the bottom line

Re “Palestinian hope held hostage,” Opinion, March 31

Palestinian Finance Minister Salam Fayyad blames Palestinian economic stagnation on international sanctions. These sanctions were imposed after the election of Hamas, which supports terrorism and the destruction of Israel. The international community should not lift its sanctions until Hamas renounces terrorism and recognizes Israel’s right to exist, or until the Palestinians choose different leadership. A cobbled-together compromise in which Fatah agrees to overlook Hamas extremism is not, as Fayyad seems to think, adequate recognition of Israel’s right to exist.

Let us hope that Palestinians will elect a government that is focused on building a viable economy in peace with Israel. But as long as Palestinians believe that they have the right to murder Israelis and ultimately destroy Israel, the international community cannot be expected to subsidize them.

DEBORAH KOKEN

Costa Mesa

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The Palestinian people have been subject to so much exploitation, violence and bad faith at the hands of their own leaders that they have become inured to terror. Even a rational and fair-minded man like Fayaad, who understandably wants solvency for his people, believes that fiscal normalcy and Hamas’ refusal to recognize Israel or give up terror are not incompatible.

Give me economic stability but tolerate terror -- this is not a formula for “hope,” and Thomas Jefferson, invoked by Fayaad to make his case, would tell him so.

PETER BRIER

Altadena

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Fayyad’s Op-Ed article is so ridiculous because it pictures the Palestinians as a normal society. We have viewed the Palestinians cheering 9/11, and we have seen Jewish people dead or crippled by Palestinian bombs. We have seen several of our presidents spend valuable time and money supporting Palestinians in their attempts to bring peace, but to no avail.

Enough is enough. I suggest that we abandon any support for the Palestinians. I am not Jewish, but I do recognize and support my friends; I would hope most Americans would do the same.

DON WILLOCK

Encino

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Fayyad’s and others’ reasonable offerings of the Palestinian problem fall on ears still ringing and deaf from the senseless murder of innocent civilians through suicide bombings and rockets raining onto random targets. Perhaps when those activities cease, we will be able to hear their pleas. Indeed, we might even find sympathy for them as well.

JAKE CLARK

Redondo Beach