LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

To the editor:

This is a response to Alan Stein, regarding my recently published opinion piece, “Time to Stand up for Equality” (Feb. 5, 2019, Register Citizen).

We should be on the same side, we’re both after equality and justice.

We must never forget that all the troubles began with the West’s persecution of Jews, and with Britain’s colonial projects. Yes, the Mandate began officially in ’23, but Britain laid policy in 1917-18 in the Balfour Declaration and started Zionist colonization.

Actually, the groundwork was 1915-16, when Britain and France secretly carved up the Ottoman empire between them.

The territory you say was assigned to Arabs all belonged to Arabs: Palestine and countries we now know in the Middle East. European powers simply stole it and drew national lines.

The 55 percent of Palestine assigned to Israel by the UN was based on what’s now Israel and Israel-occupied. Israel immediately grabbed nearly 80 percent, even though Arab armies trying to defend Palestine never entered the Israel part, but fought in the 42 percent meant for Palestine.

All Palestine is now seized. 7 million Palestinians live in exile and 4.5 million live in Israel and the territories. Christians, Druze, Muslims have never held equal rights in Israel, nor have Jews from the wrong racial groups. (See New Haven Jewish Federation March 2008 report on Israeli discrimination)

And everything that happens in the territories is Israel-controlled. The figleaf of Palestinian rule is a monstrosity of collaborators and corrupt officials, despised by Palestinians.

As for Palestinian identity beginning after formation of Israel, that’s propaganda.

Don’t ask me, go to the historical record and talk to Palestinians themselves. They’ll tell you if they existed or not. Meanwhile, it’s up to us in the West to help.

We caused the mess, we maintain it, we can do better. Stop denying that the status quo is a horror that must not endure. Yann van Heurck, Madison