By Josh Basson, , Seattle
Ron Kampeas’s insightful front page column was quite informative (“Clinton, lawmakers pushing for talks,” Jan. 15).
The Palestinians are resisting returning to talks without pre-conditions as U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is calling for. No such conditions were made in prior negotiations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is right to keep talks focused to border issues without reference to Jerusalem and refugees. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is a weak leader who has lost control of Gaza to Hamas, a terrorist organization.
Israel should not be pressured by the U.S. to make additional concessions without any from the Palestinians. Reaching a peace agreement with a weak Palestinian leader will not result in a lasting peace.
The Palestinians have not stopped their campaign of hate and incitement against Israel in their T.V., newspapers, mosques and schools. They have also not ended their corruption, and refuse to recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner (D—N.Y.) is right to suggest that appropriations should threaten to withhold aid to the Palestinian Authority if it did not agree to enter talks on terms set by Netanyahu.
The greatest obstacle to peace is the Arab/Palestinian rejection of Israel’s right to exist for over 60 years. No compromise can be made on Israel’s right to exist inside secure borders, unmolested by terrorist groups or threatened by belligerent states.
Israel should not be pressured to make a temporary peace that endangers its national security.