The PLO is for lovers

In “I am an Arab-lover” (July 1), Gershon Baskin finally stated what we have known all along and just waited patiently for him to out himself – he is an Arab-lover!

It is reasonable for him to extol the Arabic language, the so-called “hospitality” of an Arab household toward guests, his visits to Arab countries, etc. It’s pure unadulterated chutzpah of Baskin, however, for him to preach to us about the “honor” of the Arab family.

Is this the “honor” that husbands fathers, and/or brothers bestow upon family members, usually female, when it is perceived that this female strayed from what the family thinks should be or not? The most common and sick way of dealing with this lack of “honor” is to kill the wayward wife, sister, fiancée. Baskin believes the honor due to the Arabs is “the core of one’s existence.” He can’t be for real.

He ends his article calling on all Israelis to “overlook” the lack of renewal of the “citizen law” to enable Arabs to receive citizenship. Baskin cites safeguards in place to prevent security risks. I wonder if his “safeguards” would include the rights of Israelis to feel safe and free from terrorism, not worrying about the Arab’s honor or lack thereof.

That is the question that the Arab-lover should be asking his “wonderful, warm, caring Arab friends.”

DEBRA FORMAN

Modi’in

I am neither an Arab-lover nor an Arab-hater, but once again Gershon Baskin takes his rhetoric to a new dimension.

To those many whose innocent loved ones have been maimed or killed by suicide bombings, stabbings and vehicle-raming attacks, rockets, etc; the very concept of Arab-loving must be an anathema.

How can one be a lover of those who have long been indoctrinated to believe that their country has been usurped by you, that you are a racist committing ethnic cleansing/genocide, etc?

Love requires mutual respect. When their children no longer attend a school whose curriculum systemically indoctrinates Jew/Israeli hatred and when their leaders come to understand that the future of their people is inextricably linked to the Jewish nation-state and its people, love will have more fertile ground in which to root. STEPHEN VISHNICK

Tel Aviv

Now that Gershon Baskin has mastered Arabic, can he please translate and publish for us the covenant of Hamas (Article 13). PA leader Mahmoud Abbas has proved himself to be hospitable, indeed, with his view that his is a country for Muslims only, who will be treated according to his autocratic murderous style.

Hospitality was certainly evidenced recently by the rioters on the Temple Mount – and in Lod, where they attacked homes inhabited by Jews, cars and innocent people.

Perhaps, with his knowledge of Farsi, he could also translate Iran’s latest pronouncements against Israel. I would like him to ask these hospitable people whether their plan is to kill us before making peace or after? KAREN PISK

Netanya

Baskin’s love for Arabs is not really of interest to me. What does bother me is that he thinks that Israel has to accept anyone who wishes to resides in its territory. The fact that a nonresident decided to marry a resident should not, in itself and of itself, give that person the right to live in Israel. Perhaps the spouse should move to where the nonresident lives. That would maintain the family environment just as well.

The state has every right to examine anyone who wishes to reside in within its borders to assure that they are, and will continue to be, law-abiding citizens, as is the case with other nations. Even the Right of Return has been denied to Jewish people of dubious reputation.

His definition of “racism” is also questionable. Semites are a race; Jews are not. Since there are Jews from every race that I can think of, it’s ridiculous to call preference for Jews in the Jewish state “racism.”

Baskin’s love of Arabs is perhaps causing him to ignore certain facts about them. Arab culture is rife with the fact that leadership is imposed and cannot be questioned. The sheik, the mukhtar and the imam are people whose positions are not subject to the will of the people. Therefore, to think that the Arabs selected Abbas, Hamas, Arafat, etc. is not supported by the background and upbringing of the populace. If he realizes this, perhaps his diatribes against the lack of a peace process will be mitigated or more accurately directed.

HAIM SHALOM SNYDER

Petah Tikva