January 1989, Page 19

Other People's Mail

"Gentlemen don't read other people's mail," an idealistic American official exclaimed between World Wars I and II as he abolished US cryptographic counterintelligence programs. Times change, however, and some letters by or to other people are as Informative for our readers as anything we might write ourselves.

Israel and Nuclear Weapons

To Senator John Glenn: January 20, 1988

I wish to applaud your call for banning aid to countries that violate US nuclear export controls. The proliferation of nuclear weapons is a threat to the entire world community and must be curbed if we are to have a safe planet for our and future generations.

I agree with your position on Pakistan's nuclear potential. Pakistan should be encouraged to channel N-research to peaceful uses; and failing that, US aid should be withheld. What concerns me is the seemingly double standard selectively applied to countries which have or are capable of manufacturing N-weapons. The proliferation of weapons of destruction should not be a problem only when the emerging N-power is of different religion or culture.

As you are well aware, Israel has, or is capable of assembling, N-weapons. The components of the Israeli weapons, from initial accumulation of raw materials to acquisition of the triggering devices, were illegally acquired from the US. Israel has helped South Africa develop nuclear capability. Israel has not signed the UN-sponsored non-proliferation treaty. Israel has consistently refused access to the Dimona N-facility by the watch committee of the International Atomic Agency. As a matter of record, a group of US senators, including you, Senator Glenn, was refused permission to inspect the Dimona facility, in spite of the fact that congress yearly allocates billions of dollars in aid to Israel.

In conclusion, I'd like to know your stand vis-a-vis Israel's nuclear capability. Should aid to Israel be cut if that country is in violation of US nuclear export controls?

Thank you for sharing with me your thoughts on how to prevent the proliferation of weapons of annihilation.

Ahmed S. Ayish, Elyria, OH.

Rep Skeen Replies

To Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence L. Little, Portales, NM. November 15, 1988

Dear Lawrence and Margaret:

Thank you for your message concerning Israel and US policy in the Middle East. I appreciate your taking the time to share your views with me.

William Raspberry, a newspaper columnist, recently made the following observation in the Washington Post: "To tune in the evening news is to watch as Israel turns itself into something even its friends cannot defend: a country willing—even eager—to use deadly force to put down rioting Palestinians.

It is a gruesome spectacle: embarrassing to American Jews, hate-inspiring to Arabs, and utterly dismaying to all who care about either justice or peace. Israel is almost willingly transforming itself into the South Africa of the Middle East."

The above statement reflects the frustration of many Americans and understandably so. We all long for justice and equality. As you are undoubtedly aware, Secretary of State George Shultz is now currently involved in efforts to find a solution to this complex problem. I support his efforts and sincerely hope he can succeed.

Again, I appreciate your concerns and I thank you for sharing then with me. It is important that I be aware of the feelings and concerns of my fellow New Mexicans on critical issues such as this.

Joe Skeen, Member of Congress, NM.

Asking for Fairness

To the Editor, New York Times, December 8, 1988

In light of the resolutions announced at the Palestine National Council meeting held in Algiers, we have called upon the Israeli Government to restrain from hastily rejecting the PNC's decision.

Our party, Mapam (the United Workers Party of Israel) insists that Israel must distinguish between the different elements of the Algiers resolutions, grasping the positive parts as a catalyst for an Israeli-Palestinian dialogue toward comprehensive negotiations for a just peace in the Middle East, including secure and permanent borders between the state of Israel and its neighbors.

A preliminary reading of the Algiers resolutions indicated that the Palestine Liberation Organization has taken another step to distance itself from the Palestine National Covenant. In so doing it has moved closer to meeting conditions for its participation as the representative of the Palestinian people in negotiations for peace in the region.

This is the moment, we believe, when Israeli political courage could lead to the implementation of the Shemtov-Yariv formula—that is, the initiation of negotiations for Israeli-Palestinian peace based upon Palestinian recognition of United Nations Resolutions 242 and 338; Palestinian recognition of the state of Israel based upon reciprocal Israeli recognition of the legitimate claims of "the Palestinian side"; and a mutual agreement to terminate violence and hostile acts immediately.

Gary Brenner, Political Representative of Mapam in the United States, New York, NY.

Asking for Fairness

To the Editor, Washington Post: December 8, 1988

George Will's blasting of the United Nations and blind support for Israel (Op-Ed, Dec. 1) reveal a narrow-minded and shortsighted perspective on the US role in the Middle East and the UN. To argue that we bully the UN into repealing Resolution 3379 by withholding financial and institu tional support is to advocate US belligerence and chauvinism of the highest order.

There is much more at issue here than just denying Yasser Arafat's visa. The UN's swift, unanimous and unprecedented vote to move the session to Geneva shows we stand alone on this matter. The real issues are the continued stifling of the Mideast peace process after eight years of damage and the distortion of our role as host to the UN. The resolution equating Zionism with racism is objectionable, but we should not try to shape the UN into an instrument of American political will by holding our support hostage.

Citizens of many UN member countries will be surprised to learn that, according to Mr. Will, they do not belong to a "real nation" with a "representative regime" as the United States and Israel do. Arrogant and irresponsible attitudes such as these have already alienated our allies in Western Europe as well as Arab moderates whose support is crucial to stabilizing the Mideast.

US self-righteousness toward terrorism is particularly ironic after our covert sale of arms for hostages to the No. 1 terrorist regime in the world. Our hypocrisy undermines international cooperation against terrorism. We should seek to strengthen the UN rather than weaken it.

Our financial obligations to the UN pale by comparison with the $3.5 billion we gave Israel in aid last year. Is it too much to ask for a few concessions from the single largest recipient of US foreign aid? Must we continue to demand concessions from the Palestinians until they are pushed into the sea? They already have lost more than 300 lives in the past year's strife.

We have been stacking the deck in the Mideast for too long. It's time to deal a fair hand. It's also time to realize that the UN's deck has more than 150 cards in it and we are but one.

Francis X. Johnson, Washington, DC.