Letter: The Palestinian Bid for U.N. Recognition of a State (New York Times)

I think this is my 17th in the Times:

LETTERS


The Palestinian Bid for U.N. Recognition of a State

Published: September 19, 2011

To the Editor:

Re “Palestinians Turn to U.N., Where Partition Began” (news article, Sept. 19): For a two-state solution to lead to peace, certain facts must be acknowledged.

The world cannot ignore the fact that the Arabs in 1947 could have created a state according to the United Nations partition plan, but chose instead to go to war.

The world cannot ignore the fact that Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip, intending to jump-start Palestinian statehood, and that the Palestinians chose not to create a peaceful and productive state on that land.

The world cannot ignore the fact that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has offered clearly to give the Palestinians land for a state, if they would live peacefully without terror, and they have not yet been willing to accept the requirement.

Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it. Only by acknowledging the Palestinians’ repeated refusal to accept peace, and forcing them to address these issues, can true peace be achieved.

DOV BRUCE KRULWICH
Beit Shemesh, Israel, Sept. 19, 2011

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/20/opinion/the-palestinian-bid-for-un-recognition-of-a-state.html