THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 13, 1996 TAG: 9606130015
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A16 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 32 lines
The election of Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister of Israel shocked millions. Mr. Netanyahu has repeatedly professed his dedication to the continuation of settlements on Israeli-occupied territory, a blatant violation of the Oslo Accords.
Mr. Netanyahu claims to want peace, but how can he possibly expect to live in harmony with the Palestinians if he continues to build settlements on their land and declares his opposition to the Palestinian State?
Mr. Netanyahu wants peace only on his own terms. His idea of peace involves complete domination of the Palestinians. He wants a strong and secure Israel, and ``peace'' for him will mean oppressing and stifling the opposition until it is too weak to fight him.
How can the United States possibly support this kind of ``peace'' that includes direct violation of human rights? The Jewish people have been oppressed and have suffered greatly in the past, but this does not give them the right to commit atrocities upon occupied Southern Lebanon.
Since the election of Benjamin Netanyahu, the United States has embraced the prime minister-elect and promised continued support. Do you think that the same would occur if an Arab leader came into power professing his opposition to the state of Israel? Of course not!
The United States cannot legitimately support peace in the Middle East and Mr. Netanyahu at the same time. Can't the United States government see that these two blatantly contradict each other?
SAMIA EL-MAHDI
Portsmouth, June 1, 1996 by CNB