The Rift Between the U.S. and Israel

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/29/opinion/the-rift-between-the-us-and-israel.html

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To the Editor:

Re “Israel and the Two-State Solution” (editorial, Dec. 29):

Regrettably, developments over the last few days will likely worsen the very point that Secretary of State John Kerry identified as the critical hurdle to reaching a two-state solution: the lack of trust and confidence between the parties.

The Security Council resolution and Mr. Kerry’s harsh and hectoring speech will confirm to Israelis — even those most supportive of a two-state solution — that the Jewish state is being held to a different standard, and that it is being dictated to without real reciprocal demands being made of Palestinians, even as they promote destructive international initiatives that circumvent direct negotiations.

We recognize the concern regarding policies and dynamics that may jeopardize the path to a viable and secure two-state solution. But the unjust action at the Security Council and at the State Department only pushes those prospects further out.

MARVIN D. NATHAN

JONATHAN A. GREENBLATT

New York

Mr. Nathan is national chairman of the Anti-Defamation League. Mr. Greenblatt is its chief executive and national director.

To the Editor:

Re “Kerry Says Israel Keeps Sabotaging Peace Prospects” (front page, Dec. 29):

I am disturbed by Secretary of State John Kerry’s blaming Israel for holding up the two-state solution when the Palestinian intransigence dates back to before the major era of settlement building.

As the situation gets worse and worse for Palestinian claims on land, you would think that the Palestinians would reach an agreement to stop educating their children to hate Israel and to agree on splitting the land, recognizing the country of Israel.

It is these points that have prevented any solution, not the settlements, even though I find the fundamentalist claims to be distasteful to this modern American Jew who grew up in New York.

JAY M. PASACHOFF

Pasadena, Calif.

To the Editor:

The arrogant disrespect with which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel addresses President Obama, Secretary of State John Kerry and other world leaders who dare to question his country’s unrestrained settlement expansion is appalling.

As an American, I grew up with hope for a Jewish state, a liberal democracy one day living at peace with its neighbors. Today, as a taxpayer, I feel that I must now be reconvinced as to why we are continuing to commit billions of dollars in aid to a country that feels it can smack our nose with a newspaper if we don’t do as it commands.

Kudos to Secretary Kerry for his excellent speech and to President Obama for standing by the need for a two-state solution.

MICHAEL LAHR

Carlisle, Pa.

To the Editor:

The Obama-Kerry show is over. The president and the secretary of state failed to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. So what was the point of Mr. Obama’s non-veto of the anti-Israel resolution at the United Nations at this very late date?

And what was the point of Mr. Kerry’s excoriating Israeli settlements when he himself admits that they are not the cause of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute but need to be dealt with in a reasonable and realistic manner?

Prime Ministers Ehud Barak (2000) and Ehud Olmert (2008) tried to do that by offering to evacuate significant portions of the West Bank in exchange for peace but were rebuffed by the Palestinians. After Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza in 2005, the Palestinians used the territory as a missile launch pad to fire thousands of rockets aimed at Israeli civilians.

As Mr. Kerry realizes, there are real Israel haters out there who want to see the Jewish state obliterated. These people are only encouraged when American support wavers.

Senator John McCain expressed it best: Mr. Kerry’s speech was “a pointless tirade.”

JERRY RAPP

New York

To the Editor:

The United States did not deviate from its policy by abstaining from the Security Council vote. If the Israeli government is serious about resolving the conflicts between Israel and Palestine, then it has to realize that creating settlements around the West Bank will only worsen the situation.

Most of the international community agrees with this premise, and that is why the Security Council unanimously voted to condemn Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Palestine and Israel should put their religious differences aside and work together instead of engaging in negative rhetoric.

I encourage both parties to negotiate to end this conflict. It can be done.

IBRAHIM AHMED

Cerritos, Calif.