Annexation analysis

Although Tovah Lazaroff’s opinion piece (“Will annexation destroy Israeli-Jordanian peace?” May 4) is much more balanced than the one penned by Gershon Baskin (“Annexation of the West Bank will have catastrophic consequences,” May 2), both raise the specter of violence on the “Arab street” should Israel proceed with plans to annex Jewish communities in Area C and the Jordan Valley.

It is important to note that Arab hatred for Jews and Israel is not something that arose spontaneously. Arab leaders have allowed that hatred to spew from mosques, schoolrooms and media outlets, distracting their subjects from their own poverty and lack of freedom by inciting them to think of the “suffering” of their Palestinian brothers and sisters at the hands of the evil Israelis.

Baskin is correct about one thing: the peoples’ attitude is not going to change overnight. Neither can Israel bring about the change. The Sunni Arab nations, which seek Israel’s help in resisting Iran’s hegemonic threat, need to begin working to undo their vilification of Israel.

Maybe the Saudis’ Um Haroun is signaling a willingness to normalize relations with Israel. Perhaps Arab states will rescind their laws on not granting Palestine “refugees” citizenship. That would mean that the refugees, having been told that they will not be getting the homes they claim their forebears lost in Israel, would not be forced to live under the corrupt rule of the Palestinian leaders.

TOBY F. BLOCK Atlanta, GA