Situation between Israelis, Palestinians reexamined

Situation between Israelis, Palestinians reexamined

In the past I’ve questioned what some of those who’ve written letters to The Acorn were smoking, and that question has never been more appropriate than when considering Josef Avesar’s letter in the Dec. 9 edition titled "Israelis, Palestinians must work together."

While I most certainly agree that peace and harmony between these peoples can only be achieved by working together, I must take exception to some of Mr. Avesar’s statements.

To begin with, he makes the statement that both Palestinians and Israelis share the same economy, roads and air space. Economy? According to a 2003 survey, about 70 percent of Palestinians are living in poverty. If that’s sharing an economy, I’d rather not. Roads? Evidently Mr. Avesar hasn’t had to be stopped, questioned and, according to some, hassled at an Israeli checkpoint anytime in the recent past, nor has he had to drive on unpaved desert in order to reach one’s destination when a checkpoint has been closed to Palestinian but not Israeli traffic. Air space? Yes, I’m sure Palestinian airplanes can freely use air space over or around Israel…not!

Mr. Avesar continues by stating that West Bank Palestinians depend on Israel for access to the Western world. Sorry, I believe most Palestinians access the Western world through Jordan and points east, not west. Though with 70 percent or so in poverty, I don’t believe too many Palestinians are traveling to Europe or the United States or vacationing by the Mediterranean, for that matter.

Finally, Mr. Avesar, with what I believe is a high level of ignorance, states that "in the present, both Israelis and Palestinians live together as one nation" and that Palestinians and Israelis "should create a federal government." He’s got to be kidding. Israel’s government and society has enough difficulty uniting fragmented political, religious and social groups as it is and they’re almost all Jews. Can you imagine what it would be like with Palestinian political groups added to the mix, some of whom have sworn to drive Israel into the sea?

I repeat, what are you smoking? I hope it’s only for medicinal use!

Dan Gersten

Agoura Hills