Mideast blame all around

Re “History and mistrust hobble Olmert, Abbas,” news analysis, Nov. 28

“The memory of failures of the near and distant past weighs heavily upon us,” said Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert at the Annapolis Mideast conference. It weighs far heavier on Palestinians who, like Native Americans, were forced to submit to treaties denying them their land, heritage, sovereignty and forced to surrender all to overwhelming power.

Harold A. Maio

Ft. Myers, Fla.

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Re “Points of contention for Israel, Palestinians,” Nov. 27

This article failed to live up to its headline. Missing was the most basic issue of all: the matter of Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state and the Palestinians’ and other Arab states’ recognition and acknowledgment of that right. This was the sole purpose of Israel’s participation in the conference. It is what the United Nations Security Council decreed in 1948, but which remains unfulfilled and has led to all past and present conflicts. It is in exchange for that recognition that a Palestinian state will be established and agreed to by Israel. All other issues are mere details that have to be dealt with as part and parcel of a comprehensive agreement. For The Times to fail to recognize it as a point of contention is an egregious failure of its responsibility for fair and accurate reporting and a lost opportunity to educate the public.

Jack D. Fine

Los Angeles

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Re “Give peace every chance,” editorial, Nov. 28

If President Bush picked up the negotiations where President Clinton left off, the chances of peace in the Middle East would have been much greater. During the last six years, many Arab and European countries begged Bush to proceed with the negotiations, but to no avail. In the meantime, Israel occupied more Palestinian land, isolated Jerusalem by building settlements and carved out more territory by building a wall. On the other side, the Palestinians became more radicalized, and Hamas acquired more strength that resulted in its occupation of the Gaza Strip. Also, Hezbollah, Syria and Iran have become major players in the equation and forces to reckon with. All sides have become more intransigent, and the chances of peace have become very remote if not impossible. The consequences of failure are huge for the Israelis, the Palestinians and the United States.

John Youssef

Woodland Hills