By Josh Basson, , Seattle
Daniel Levisohn’s insightful column was quite informative (“Forty years later,” June 8).
Levisohn points out that revisionist accounts of the war have come under heavy criticism from scholars. Not surprising, with the 40th anniversary of Israel’s astonishing victory in the Six Day War has come a gusher of revisionist history.
The so-called “occupation game” peddled by pro-Palestinian activists in Seattle wrongly puts the blame for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict solely on Israel. Had it not been for the obsessive urge to erase the Jewish State, there would have been no occupation to decry today.
In 1967, Israel offered a land-for-peace deal that Arab states rejected. They chose the destruction of Israel instead of peace. That choice has forced Israel to take defensive measures in response to Palestinian suicide bombings and rocket attacks against innocent Israeli civilians.
Unfortunately, Palestinians have had corrupt leaders that have misled them with lies and not in the best interest of their people. Instead of genuinely seeking a peace agreement with Israel for the betterment of both people, those leaders continue to encourage a culture of hate and violence against Israelis.
Palestinians would have had an independent state, had Yasser Arafat not rejected outright the U.S.-brokered generous offer Israel made in 2000.
Until Palestinians elect leaders who renounce violence against Israel, accept Israel’s right to exist and previous agreements, there can be no peaceful two-state solution.
If Israel had lost the Six Day War, there would have been no occupation these past 40 years as there would have been no Israel.