Letter to The Washington Post

Dear Editor,

In “Israelis Announce Cease-Fire In Gaza” (January 18, 2009), the Washington Post states, as if it were fact, that “Palestinians envision establishing a state in the two territories [Gaza and The West Bank].” But which Palestinians are The Washington Post referring to? Not the ones in Gaza. In Gaza, the political party/recognized terrorist organization Hamas, elected by the people, is pursuing the destruction of the state of Israel – it doesn't deny this. Not the ones in the West Bank, where the “moderate” Fatah has the same goal but uses more finesse: gain land in the first phase which they can use as a base to destroy Israel in the second phase.

The Palestinian Liberation Organization was founded before the West Bank and Gaza Strip were in Israel’s possession, that is, before 1967, when Egypt controlled Gaza and Jordan controlled the West Bank. What was the goal of these Palestinians, to liberate Gaza and the West Bank from Egypt and Jordan? No, to 'liberate' Israel ! Their terrorist attacks were not against Egypt and Jordan, but Israel. The Palestinians have consistently shown that their goal is to "liberate" Israel from the Jews, not merely to establish a state in the two territories as The Washington Post insists. Why else would they, under “moderate” Fatah leadership, have rejected agreements that would have given them upwards of 95% of those territories?