Letter in the Washington Post re: Saeb Erekat's Op-ed piece

(Published on Nov. 1, 2010)

Saeb Erakat's op-ed piece in today's Washington Post was loaded with provocative political language. He meant to stir up emotions against the Israeli government and its' people, especially those involved in the settlements.  There is reason on both sides, but we shall never be able to negotiate a just and lasting peace, until the rhetoric is toned down.

Mr. Erakat states that "Israeli settlements stand at the heart of an apartheid system whose network of segregated roads, barbed-wire fences, concrete walls, permits and checkpoints reinforce the systemic discrimination and institutionalized violence that Palestinians face under occupation."  It must be optional that Palestinians do not need to take responsibility for their own violent actions.  The security wall, the segregated roads and checkpoints all came into being, as a result of overwhelming violent attacks on Israelis by Palestinians.  I suppose Israelis do not have the right to defend themselves.

Also, a heartbreaking photo of an Arab boy mourning his father was embedded into the article.  The telling omission on the photo description below the picture is the reason why Israeli border police killed this man earlier this month.