Opinion
 

Letters to the Editor

Opinionated Orator

To the Editor:

In Tuesday's news article "Wise calls for end to Mideast 'injustice,'" Ora Wise argues that Israel is responsible for the Palestinian refugee problem. These claims are false. The war imposed on Israel in 1948 by the invasion of five separate Arab nations caused the refugee problem was caused by the war imposed on Israel by the invasion of five separate Arab nations in 1948. Israel has remained committed to participating in an international effort to resettle and compensate Palestinian refugees.

As many as 700,000 Palestinians abandoned their homes in response to the Arab nationsi attack after Israel declared independence on May 15, 1948. During the chaotic war, many of the Palestinians who left did so either voluntarily to avoid the ongoing war or at the urging of Arab leaders who promised that all who left would return after a quick Arab victory over the new Jewish state. Some recent historical studies have revealed that in some regrettable cases, Palestinians were forced to flee by individuals or groups fighting for Israel. There was no official deliberate or systematic Israeli policy of expelling Palestinians. The Palestinians who stayed through the war were made full citizens of the State of Israel. 

Although I support Wiseis efforts to create peace in the Middle East, I do not support the inaccurate and misleading statements she claims are facts.

Jessica Glatzer,
law student

To the editor:

I would like to address one of the many inaccurate and one-sided facts given by Ora Wise. Wise stated that Israeli troops "randomly" target innocent Palestinians. 

These claims are completely unfounded. Israel does not indiscriminately target innocent Palestinians. However, Israel does target known Palestinian terrorists as a policy dictated for self-defense in response to the great threat these individuals pose to Israeli civilians. Leaders of terrorist organizations are direct combatants in warfare against Israel. These terrorists plan attacks in which the goal is to kill and maim as many Israeli civilians as possible. Many of these terrorists are supposed to be incarcerated by the Palestinian Authority, in accordance with the Oslo accords and subsequent agreements, and yet they remain free to organize attacks and bombings against Israelis. 

The Palestinian Authority has provided funding and support to terrorists and has released dozens of convicted terrorists from Palestinian prisons since the violence began. Their activities directly threaten the lives of Israeli citizens, civilians and soldiers alike, and since the PA has done nothing to stop it, Israel has no choice but to address this threat itself.

Israel has shown the greatest possible restraint making a determined effort to limit Palestinian casualties. Whenever possible, the Israel Defense Force responds to Palestinian violence in very direct manner, at carefully specified targets. These operations, to root out terrorists and their infrastructure, are consistent with the Israeli Governmentis right and responsibility to defend Israel and its population from attack.

Israel has no option but to go into Palestinian centers, since Palestinian terrorist and militia often deliberately position themselves in densely populated areas. In the early days of the violence, Palestinian tanzim shot at Israeli forces from behind groups of demonstrating children and young men 

Most Palestinian casualties are individuals directly engaged in anti-Israel violence and terrorism. Tragically, as with the current war in Iraq, innocent people have been caught in the crossfire, particularly when cowardly Palestinian terrorists use civilians as human shields. In many cases of Palestinian casualties the Israeli military conducts internal investigations to determine whether its soldiers made errors. This contrasts with the modus operandi of Palestinian terrorists whose aim is to kill and maim as many civilians as possible in their attacks.

I cannot understand why Wise was given any platform to voice her opinion without any space reserved for the meaningful expression of opposing viewpoints.

Lorraine Romano,
law student

Letters to the editor are welcome from all members of the UH community and should focus on issues, not personalities. Letters must be typed and must include the author's name, telephone number and affiliation with the University. Anonymous letters will not be published. Letters are subject to editing for clarity, language and space. Letters may be delivered in person to Room 151, Communication; e-mailed to dclettrs@mail.uh.edu ; or faxed to (713) 743-5384.Send comments to dccampus@mail.uh.edu