Some Excellent letters in the NYTimes regarding Israel and America’s Support

[AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO READ GOOD ARTICLES IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine]

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/15/opinion/israel-and-americas-support.html?ref=international

Israel and America’s Support

FEB. 14, 2014

 

Regarding “Israel needs to learn some manners” (Opinion, Jan. 31): Avi Shlaim is correct that the “unconditional nature” of America’s support for Israel is the “fundamental problem” with the relationship between the two countries. It is this unconditional support that encourages Israel to pursue policies that are contrary to American and world interests, like its continued efforts to block a Palestinian state and block a nuclear treaty with Iran. Those policies directly undermine Secretary of State John Kerry’s efforts and American foreign policy objectives. It is time for the United States to make its support of Israel conditional on Israel actually working for peace with the Palestinians and supporting the ongoing negotiations with Iran.

Ruth Persky, Los Angeles

If the international community, with America’s strong support, forced Israel to do what it has been asked to do — remove all settlers from the West Bank and dismantle all settlement buildings as well as the security barrier — then a two-state peace treaty might be achievable.

Peter Belmont, Brooklyn, N.Y.

PALESTINE REMEMBERED: Avi Shlaim, an Israeli Jewish historian, traced Israel's conduct and polices towards its Arab neighbors since the inception of Zionism in the late 19th century until the end of the 20th century. It is worth noting that the book is mostly based on declassified Israeli documents and personal diaries.