My letter to the New York Times RE The Palestinians, Alone by Efraim Karsh

RE: The Palestinians, Alone by Efraim Karsh
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/02/opinion/02karsh.html?_r=1&ref=opinion

Dear Editor,

Yes, a negotiated settlement to end the Israel/Palestine conflict is crucially important for everyone's sake- but it is utterly ridiculous to be blaming the very real plight of the Palestinians on neighboring Arab countries. Israel created the Palestinian refugee crisis- and Israel continues to persecute and impoverish Palestinians individually and collectively... The Arab Peace Initiative, asking " Israel to reconsider its policies and declare that a just peace is its strategic option as well" is proof positive that Arab leadership has been actively engaged in supporting Palestinian efforts to get Israel to respect international law and all relevant UN Resolutions.

The Arab Peace Initiative

2. Further calls upon Israel to affirm:

I- Full Israeli withdrawal from all the territories occupied since 1967, including the Syrian Golan Heights, to the June 4, 1967 lines as well as the remaining occupied Lebanese territories in the south of Lebanon.

II- Achievement of a just solution to the Palestinian refugee problem to be agreed upon in accordance with U.N. General Assembly Resolution 194.

III- The acceptance of the establishment of a sovereign independent Palestinian state on the Palestinian territories occupied since June 4, 1967 in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

3. Consequently, the Arab countries affirm the following:

I- Consider the Arab-Israeli conflict ended, and enter into a peace agreement with Israel, and provide security for all the states of the region.

II- Establish normal relations with Israel in the context of this comprehensive peace.

March 7, 2007 Washington, DC Jordan's King Abdullah addressed a joint session of Congress hoping to gain American support for the Arab Peace Initiative: "We must work together to restore Palestine, a nation in despair and without hope. We must work together to restore peace, hope and opportunity to the Palestinian people. And in so doing, we will begin a process of building peace, not only throughout the region, but throughout the world."

Perhaps if the New York Times published the entire text of the Arab Peace Initiative, more columnists (and our fourth estate) would be inspired to support genuine efforts to help shape a just and lasting peace for everyone's sake.

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab

My Blog: Growing Gardens for Palestine