Israeli settlements not the problem

Intransigence of Palestinian Authority represents true obstacle to peace in the Middle East

This letter is in response to the column “UN Vote Affirms Humanitarian Law” by Iris Keltz that appeared in the Albuquerque Journal on Jan. 19.

She presents a biased view of the “TwoState Solution” in an effort to present Jewish settlements on the West Bank as being an obstacle for peace.

Keltz begins her column by describing the miracles of Chanukah and Christmas, as the holidays occurred at the same time last year. She states, “Miracles are not everyday events, but when they happen they must be acknowledged and celebrated.”

Keltz fails to acknowledge the miracle of Israeli independence in 1948 when Arab forces attacked from three fronts with the objective of “pushing the Jews into the sea.” Being outnumbered, outgunned and without outside assistance, Israeli forces repelled the invaders and expanded their territory.

Had the Arabs accepted the UN partition of 1948, a Palestinian state would be celebrating 69 years of independence alongside Israel.

Keltz goes on to discuss a history of treaties and agreements going back to the 1917 Balfour Declaration. She fails to mention the Oslo Accords in the 1990s that established the Palestinian Authority as a precursor to further negotiate the Two-State Solution.

Keltz fails to mention further negotiations in 2000 and 2008 whereby Israel offered vast concessions of territory and dismantling of settlements for a Palestinian state. The PA leaders, Yasser Arafat and Mahmoud Abbas, respectively, would not commit to these offers.

Furthermore, Arafat launched a terror campaign against Israeli citizens known as the Second Intifada.

In current times, the PA has refused direct negotiations with Israel. Instead, they turn to nongovernmental organizations like the United Nations for legitimacy and to vilify Israel.

An example is the anti-Israel UN resolution that the United States would not veto on behalf of our staunchest ally in the Middle East.

The Jewish settlements in the West Bank are not an obstacle to peace as Keltz, (former) President Obama and (former) Secretary of State John Kerry contend. The militant Palestinian leadership has rejected offers to dismantle settlements for peace, refused direct negotiations and instigated terror attacks from both Gaza and the West Bank.

These militants benefit from an ongoing conflict to stay in power and maintain a corrupt status quo at the expense of the Palestinian people.

They will accept nothing less than the total annihilation of the Jewish state.