Thursday, July 20, 2006
My letter to the Editor in Minnesota
The letter can be found at the following address: http://www.startribune.com/563/story/539582.html
Israel's plan: It does want peace
In response to the July 6 letter "Israel's long-term plan: It's not about peace," I think that the author is unaware of some basic facts. First, Israel does want peace, and it demonstrated that last summer when it unilaterally disengaged from the Gaza Strip. Israel continues to demonstrate this by sending humanitarian aid and medicine into the Gaza, yet the Hamas-led government has time and again refused Israel's offers of peace.
Second, the writer claimed that Israel holds Palestinian women and juveniles in prison, but he did not mention they include 64 women and 91 juveniles who, according to Israeli Prison Authority Spokeswoman Orit Stelster, have thrown Molotov cocktails at Israeli civilians, transported knives into Israel in order to stab ordinary Israelis, and have been associated with terror organizations like Hamas and Islamic Jihad. These are dangerous people.
Third, the writer says the terrorists are holding only one Israeli soldier, but he doesn't mention that the terrorists attacked inside of Israel and kidnapped Cpl. Gilad Shalit while still firing Qassam rockets into neighboring Israeli towns. Just as the U.S. government is pledged to secure life, liberty and the chance to pursue happiness for us, so must Israel's government guarantee that its citizens will be secure and free.
If the Palestinians stopped terror, Israel would have no reason for curfews, fences, checkpoints and other defensive measures.
VITALI GUERON, ST. PAUL
Israel's plan: It does want peace
In response to the July 6 letter "Israel's long-term plan: It's not about peace," I think that the author is unaware of some basic facts. First, Israel does want peace, and it demonstrated that last summer when it unilaterally disengaged from the Gaza Strip. Israel continues to demonstrate this by sending humanitarian aid and medicine into the Gaza, yet the Hamas-led government has time and again refused Israel's offers of peace.
Second, the writer claimed that Israel holds Palestinian women and juveniles in prison, but he did not mention they include 64 women and 91 juveniles who, according to Israeli Prison Authority Spokeswoman Orit Stelster, have thrown Molotov cocktails at Israeli civilians, transported knives into Israel in order to stab ordinary Israelis, and have been associated with terror organizations like Hamas and Islamic Jihad. These are dangerous people.
Third, the writer says the terrorists are holding only one Israeli soldier, but he doesn't mention that the terrorists attacked inside of Israel and kidnapped Cpl. Gilad Shalit while still firing Qassam rockets into neighboring Israeli towns. Just as the U.S. government is pledged to secure life, liberty and the chance to pursue happiness for us, so must Israel's government guarantee that its citizens will be secure and free.
If the Palestinians stopped terror, Israel would have no reason for curfews, fences, checkpoints and other defensive measures.
VITALI GUERON, ST. PAUL
