Where Do Palestinians Stand?
In J. J. Goldberg’s September 23 article, “A Palestinian State Even the Securocrats Accept,” we are told that almost all of Israel’s high ranking and knowledgeable military and security people suggest that Israel should enter direct negotiations accepting final borders based on the 1967 line along with other issues in dispute: water rights, demilitarization, refugees and Jerusalem. This, under the assumption that the “Palestinians would settle for what Israel can safely give.” Although the article criticizes the Israeli government for ignoring this advice, we are not informed of whether the Palestinians would now accept what Israel can safely give. During the previous negotiation between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and President Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian leader rejected Olmert’s refugee offer and maintained his current position that would end Israel as a Jewish state. Would these Israel critics find this outcome acceptable? If not, what would be their thoughts as to addressing the hostilities of these Palestinians who have been promised to be able to return to pre-67 Israel?
Marvin Elmowitz
West Caldwell, N.J.
