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Judging
Ariel
To
the Editor:
In
your piece on the Israel-Palestine conflict [“Occupational
Hazards,” April 11], I was gratified to see that you did enclose
at least a modicum of balance, including some text describing
the Israeli perspective. I do not wish to get into restating
arguments which are unlikely to persuade people who already
have their positions. However, there are a few points in your
article which deserve comment.
Your writer, Mr. Parrish, states that “absolutely nothing
excuses the . . . attacks upon the civilian population [by
the Israelis].” I would like to suggest that this argument
could easily be turned around to state that “absolutely nothing
excuses the bombing of the civilian population [by the Palestinians].”
I would also like to comment on the uncritically stated assertions
that the Israeli troops are committing summary executions.
Although there is no doubt that excessive force and abuse
is occurring, and that innocent civilians have unfortunately
been killed or injured, it is inconceivable to me that these
forces are conducting summary executions. I do not claim that
the reporters from the Mideast are lying, but that they have
been misled. Any person who follows the news cannot avoid
the conclusion that the Palestinian authorities will say whatever
they feel supports their cause with little regard for the
truth (viz. the recent shipment of arms aboard the Kalina
A).
If I am mistaken in my belief and subsequent investigations
confirm the existence of summary executions, I will be first
in line to publicly condemn the perpetrators, and this would
cause me to rethink my support of Israel. However, if subsequent
investigations determine that these executions did not take
place, will Metroland cover that with the same energy
and intensity as the current unsubstantiated reports? And
please note that the Israeli courts have prevented any premature
burial of Palestinians so that these types of investigations
may be conducted.
Finally, I would just like to point out that we may often
debate who started what outrage, it seems to be often overlooked
that there is no clear and compelling evidence that the Palestinians
and the Arabs have forsaken their goal of eliminating the
state of Israel.
Burton Klinger
North Greenbush
To the Editor:
I
read the two points and one counterpoint in the April 18 issue
[Letters]. I have two points and one counterpoint of my own.
The telethon held in Saudi Arabia to aid Palestinians kind
of amused me. Look at a map, the size of Israel, the West
Bank and Saudi Arabia. There’s plenty of room in Saudi Arabia
for them to cordon off part of their country as a homeland
for the Palestinians, if they care about them so much.
In 1991, 200,000 people were killed in Iraq during the Gulf
War. Today, I wish that then it had occurred to me to point
out that Iraq should now have room for 200,000 Palestinian
refugees.
My counterpoint involves John Walker Lindh. I’ve been wondering
if I’m the only person to whom it’s occurred that he’s killed
fewer people than has Laura Bush.
Jeff
Hinckle
Albany
And
on Another Note
To
the Editor:
What
a refreshing article about Stephen Leon’s family outing to
Boston [Comment, April 25]. It’s refreshing to see in this
day and age that people can still have fun and enjoy each
other’s company. I hope they left their cell phones in the
hotel room.
On another note, the article by Erin Sullivan regarding the
“Appeal for Justice,” [Newsfront, April 25]: I am still amazed
that no one had the balls to know when they were considering
hanging the Sol Wachtler portrait along with another justice’s
when this man violated every possible ethics rule imaginable.
Yet we “honor” this criminal and send laypersons to jail.
Something is definitely wrong with our judicial system.
RA
DePrima
Albany
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