Letter to New York Times

Dear Editor,

After the recent terrorist attack in Jordan, Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister Marwan Muasher said “terrorist attacks on civilians should not be justified for any reason... This culture of bombing people for whatever reason or whatever cause should not be justified." (AP, 11/10/05). This from a leader in the same Arab world that has turned a blind eye toward, or even encouraged and supported, the Palestinian murder of innocent Israeli civilians for decades – all over a dispute of dirt.

Perhaps this tragedy will point out to the Arab world that they have only reaped what they have sown. We can be sure that Jews will not be celebrating this catastrophe, as Palestinian Arabs do when Jews are the victims. We will be mourning and shaking our heads ruefully about the Arab double standard that has thwarted any serious hope of peace in that region.

Michael Berenhaus