Letter to The Washington Post

From: mberenhaus@comcast.net
To: ombudsman@washpost.com
CC: letters@washpost.com
Subject: Arab Lands?
Date: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 11:40:07 AM

Dear Editor, Why does The Washington Post insist on calling the West Bank - "Arab lands"? [Old Saudi Peace Plan Considered, Barak Says Oct. 20, 2008]. The Turks (who are not Arabs) controlled the region from 1517 to 1917. The British (who are not Arabs) controlled the region from 1917 to 1948. From 1948 to 1967, the West Bank territory was illegally occupied by Jordan. Israel won it after being attacked by Jordan in the Six Day war in 1967 and it has been in their control ever since. It is no coincidence that the West Bank was known for thousands of years as Judea and Samaria. And if you want to go back even further: Abraham, the first Jew, and patriarch to the major religions was buried in the West Bank - no one disputes this. The territory is not "Arab land", and saying it is does not make it so. Please reconsider this usage since I know you cherish your objectivity. Call it "disputed" territory.

Thank you,

Michael Berenhaus

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Note: Abraham was buried in Canaan – but I wanted to simplify for the letter.

Michael