August 1988, Page 42

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.

TV "Opportunity" for Peres on MacNeil-Lehrer

Dear Channel 13 New York: May 25, 1988

I'd like to offer you some criticism of your interview with Israeli Foreign Minister Peres on the May 17 broadcast of the MacNeil-Lehrer Hour. That segment seemed to me less an interview than a television "opportunity" for Mr. Peres. Using questions that were mostly supportive, he was able to bolster his image as a reasonable and moderate peace-seeker and excuse Israel's actions during recent months. But because you failed to challenge any of his responses, the important questions that are on the minds of many viewers remained unanswered.

A non-question, it seemed to me, was: Has Israel's treatment of the Palestinians made any difference in the administration's posture toward his country? Everyone—above all Mr. Peres—knows the answer: Historically, there has been no change in the relationship between the two countries even when Israel injured the United States itself (e.g., the Pollard spy case, the Iran scandal, and the Israeli attack on the USS Liberty). Why should injuries to Palestinians make a difference now? Mr. Peres took the cue to assure us, with a gesture of surprise, that there has been no change. Thus he reinforced a propaganda point, but the viewer gained nothing.

I don't suggest, of course, that you should have brought up the Pollard or Iran questions; still less that you should have conducted a hostile interview. The program would have been more interesting and useful to the public, however, if you had addressed other important questions. Israel's prime minister rejects the peace process, for example, while his deputy pursues it; you might have explored the fact that Israel has closed the area to the media; you could have asked how such gross censorship can be justified by a country that espouses democratic values. You might also have asked how tear gas attacks on schools and hospitals can possibly be justified.

Maxim Ghilan, the noted Israeli peace activist and editor, contends that all those who commit crimes in the occupied territories "must know that, sooner or later, they may be judged as war criminals." In that category he includes not only Mr. Rabin and Mr. Shamir, but also Mr. Peres, "who did not resign and who condones Rabin's policy." You might have asked Mr. Peres to respond to the charge.

It is a great pity that you chose not to ask any of these real questions. Mr. Peres gained, and we, the American viewing public, lost.

Robert A. Gravallese, New York, NY.

British Notables Speak Out for Palestinian Rights

To the New York Times: June 19, 1988

We are deeply concerned about the continuing unrest in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Dozens of Palestinians have been killed and hundreds injured by Israeli security forces in the worst outbreak of violence in the occupied territories since 1967.

The Palestinian uprising is a direct result of 20 years' occupation. This occupation has entailed denial of the Palestinian right to self-determination and led to mass arrests, forced deportations, land expropriation, and other restrictions on human rights.

We believe that continuation of the occupation will lead to more violence. We support a settlement based on mutual recognition between Israel and the Palestinians, and the legitimate right of both sides to security and national self-determination.

We call for an end to Israeli occupation and the convening of an international peace conference for all parties concerned, including Israel and the PLO, issuing security guarantees to be subscribed to by the United States and the Soviet Union and all other parties attending the conference.

(Sir) A.J. Ayer, Graham Greene, H.L.A. Hart, John LeCarre, John Mortimer, (Sir) P.F. Strawson, London, Great Britain

A Bedouin Proverb for Yitzhak Rabin

To the Washington Post:April 4, 1988

As a person who has lived all his life in the troubled land of Israel, I would like to offer its political leaders the following wisdom, passed down through the ages as a Bedouin anecdote:

One day two young Bedouins met on their way to the city. One turned to the other and asked, "What does your father do?" His acquaintance replied, "My father is the greatest man in the entire tribe. No one is wiser or more important than he." The first man, surprised by this answer, inquired further, saying, "How is this? What does your father do that makes him the greatest man in the tribe?" The Bedouin responded, "My father sets broken bones."

At that time, the ability to set broken bones was highly treasured among the Bedouins. But the first young man was not at all awed by the tremendous skill of the man's father, and he exclaimed, "Your father is not the greatest man in the tribe! My father is much more important than yours!" Insulted, the other Bedouin asked angrily, "What could your father possibly do to make him a greater man than mine?" His companion replied intelligently, in a low voice, "My father prevents bones from being broken."

I say to Yitzhak Rabin and other leaders of Israel: the wisdom of this land is to prevent bones from being broken, not to break them.

Elias Jabbour, Shefa-Amr, Israel

"Arab-Bashing" Political Cartoons

Dear Pelican Publishing Co.:June 15, 1988

I recently had the opportunity to peruse your latest edition of "Best Editorial Cartoons, 1988." Being an avid follower of Middle East politics, I immediately opened to that section of your book.

Let me suggest that in future editions, you change the tide of this section from the "Middle East" to "Arab bashing," since your editor made a conscious decision to omit any of the excellent cartoons which were (God forbid) critical of Israel. For example, the cartoon by Benson of the Arizona Republic, which compared the accidental Iraqi attack on the USS Stark to the deliberate Israeli attack on the USS Liberty.

It will be interesting to see if your next edition censors the abundance of cartoons critical of Israeli brutality and intransigence during the Palestinian uprising.

Glenn Bering, Ann Harbor, Mi.

Negotiations for the Pollard's Release

Dear US News and World Report:May 28, 1988

I have just finished reading your short and disturbing article under "Washington Whispers" in the May 23 issue of your magazine. I can't imagine anyone in our government trying to make a deal for Jonathan Jay Pollard—convicted of spying for Israel—to be released from US prison.

In other words, if sent to Israel, Pollard and his wife would be set free! It's unbelievable that our government would stoop so low as to release a traitor to this nation. There aren't enough adjectives in the English language for me to adequately describe my total disgust at such a damnable and despicable idea.

If this idea is carried out, all other traitors who were caught and convicted about the same time in 1985 should be freed, too.

May God forbid!

Frederick A. Rheney, Smyrna, GA.