Correspondence
Susser off mark
By To the Editor
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To the editor:
I am writing about JTA writer Leslie Susser’s latest dispatch from Jerusalem (Jewish Review, March 1, page 1).
As in his Feb. 15 article in the Review, Susser sets off the alarm, lest the window of opportunity for the two-state solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict close.
What are the Jews to do? Accept the Saudis’ dictat to withdraw to the indefensible pre-1967 border, relinquish East Jerusalem and allow 4 million refugees—the displaced Arabs from the 1948 war and their descendants—to enter Israel? And might Israel offer reparations for the suffering inflicted on the hapless Arabs during the last 40 years, even as the missiles from Gaza continue to rain on Sderot, and now Ashkelon, every day?
Some window of opportunity!
The blackmail, that is, the threat that the Saudis and their cohorts will take their generous offer off the table if the Jews don’t accept their conditions soon, elicits no comment from Susser. Is he writing for the Saudi propaganda ministry?
Let me, an 80-year-old Holocaust survivor, make the comment then: The one-state solution—taught to Arab school children with cutouts of their Palestinian dreamland, from which Israel has disappeared—is and always has been the Arab goal. But while Israel is still strong, they adopt a “negotiation” posture, “the Saudi Plan” that is lauded by Brit Tzedek v’Shalom.
Concurrently, the Arabs continue to attack the Jews with suicide bombers and, until now, inaccurate missiles.
When the Jews retaliate and exact a greater toll from them, the Arabs score a propaganda victory. It’s déjà vu all over again. The world press deplores and condemns the Jews’ “disproportionate” response, legitimizing Arabs anger and impatience.
And the widely anticipated impasse of the Annapolis “peace process” further advances the Arab goal of the one-state solution.”
What would be the result of the the one-state solution be for the Jews? Murder (as in 1929), expulsion, or at best, dhimmi status.
Susser and his appeaseniks just don’t get it.
If the Arabs laid down their arms, they would have peace and land.
If the Jews lay down their arms they will have their throats cut.
Never Again!
Gunter Hiller
Portland
To the editor:
Hamas welcomes Israeli retaliation to its relentless missile attacks upon Israeli civilians. It knows that Israel will be pilloried in the international media with the usual Arab and pro-Arab propaganda claims that Israel is using “excessive and disproportionate” force. We have heard that mantra many times before.
What may well happen is that as a result of continuing goading from the Hamas missile barrage, Israel will eventually enter deeper into Gaza in order to reach the Arab missile squads firing from some 6 to 8 kilometers inside the Gaza Strip.
At that time, and before the Israel Defense Force can deal a knock-out blow against the terrorists, the international pressure will increase along with demands for Israel to cease and withdraw.
Sadly, the Olmert government likely will cave in as happened in the second Lebanon War and so many times before in Israel’s self-defense wars against the Arabs. This will become another Israeli PR disaster and the Jewish state will be further demoralized and paralyzed.
Only when an Israeli leader finally has the intestinal and spiritual fortitude to withstand the hostile international pressure can the Jewish state again stand tall and be a source of inspiration and pride to Jews and non-Jews everywhere.
Will this be that moment? I pray so, but I’m not holding my breath.
Victor Sharpe
Portland