By Josh Basson, , Seattle
Rabbi Charles Kroloff’s column (“Let’s recognize the sacred power of this time — for peace,” Sept. 3) misstates Mideast peace prospects. The fact that Palestinians finally agreed to direct negotiations, without pre-conditions, may be a positive step.
However, let’s not delude ourselves. There can never be peace in the Middle East with a nuclear Iran.
I am outraged and deeply saddened by the brutal killing of a pregnant mother, her husband and two passengers in their car, by Palestinian terrorists. Since Hamas, a terrorist organization, claimed responsibility and were jubilant about it speaks volumes of their hatred and evil intentions against the good people of Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should have cancelled the talks and immediately returned home to attend the victims’ funerals.
In continuing to negotiate with Mahmoud Abbas, a weak leader that is not a credible peace partner, Netanyahu appears to have made a major blunder.
The Palestinians are not yet ready to make a lasting peace with Israel and think they can defeat the Israelis by violence and murder.
A persistent myth of the Arab-Israeli conflict is that Palestinian terrorists kill Jews in order to “disrupt the peace process,” and that the best response to terrorism is to persevere with negotiations.”
Peace will never be possible with “partners” that refuse to accept the permanent legitimacy of Jewish sovereignty in the Middle East.
Israel should not be pressured by her allies to enter a delusional peace agreement until she has a credible peace partner ready to accept Jewish sovereignty.