Israel Ends Occupation of Hebron

Re “When Only the Land Keeps Its Promises,” Commentary, Jan. 17: Yisrael Medad reflects the viewpoint of ultra-Orthodox Israelis with depressing clarity. The biblical justification for occupation of West Bank enclaves; the dismissal of Palestinian claims to land they consider theirs as being “something they never had and do not deserve” (which is factually inaccurate and blatantly arrogant); and, most ludicrous of all, blaming perceived injustices on an American-Arab conspiracy.

Medad writes in disparaging tones of the “pragmatism and materialism” of America. I would like to know if his rejection of American materialism, coupled with his belief that the United States is siding with the Palestinians, would lead him in good conscience to reject the $3.5 billion the government and people of the United States contribute each year to the security and economic prosperity of Israel.

GEORGE E. MILLER

Los Osos

* Even I, a Jewish American, wonder how we can expect respect, reconciliation and peace in the Middle East when political cartoonists (Rob Rogers, Jan. 20) depict Benjamin Netanyahu as a meek, pacified cat and Yasser Arafat as a rat, however cute it may appear.

The Middle East peace process can continue if both sides are given nine lives with equal footing.

MARTY SPATZ

Woodland Hills

* If peace is ever to come between Israelis and Palestinians, there must be an end to the patronizing attitudes such as those exhibited by Khairallah Khairallah (Commen- tary, Jan. 20), in which he both mocks and burlesques the prime minister of Israel.

There are many people (myself included) who would have preferred Shimon Peres as prime minister of Israel but, having said that, Netanyahu has acquitted himself well in the short period he has held that post.

In the past 3,000 years, the city of Jerusalem has been divided for only 19 of those years (1948-1967). If Khairallah and Arafat view the current negotiations as just a stop on the road to achieving sovereignty over part or all of Jerusalem, then perhaps the talks should be allowed to wither away.

Calling Netanyahu’s efforts an “adolescent approach,” and viewing the opening of a door to a tunnel in Jerusalem as an unholy act do nothing to provide an atmosphere conducive to constructive negotiations.

RICHARD REBHUN

Los Angeles