Letter to Washington Post

Dear Editor, David Korn, former State Department director in the Carter Administration, in his letter-to-the-editor (8/24/11) states that "expansion of the settlements" are the "main obstacle to negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority." He provides no evidence for this. That is because there is no evidence. Even with "expansion", Jewish towns make up less than 5% of the West Bank and 0% of Gaza. If Palestine did become a reality, they could and probably would kick out all the Jews anyway - that's what happened before in every other Arab country, with no one saying a word. It is only the Palestinians who see these settlements as an excuse not to negotiate, and Mr. Korn has fallen for their propaganda "hook, line and sinker". The question is: What is really preventing the Palestinians from sitting down with Israel, when they have nothing to lose and everything to gain? Michael Berenhaus