Letters: It Takes Two to Make Peace, Baby (Not Just Israel)

"Letters: What Should We Ask of Israel Now?" A32

In response to the Times recent unenlightened editorial, "An Agenda for Mr. Netanyahu," Glen Lewy, Chairman of the Anti-Defamation League, pens an excellent response. Lewy is exactly correct in asserting that the Times "unfairly puts too much onus on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel for progress in Middle East issues."

This is a common theme throughout Times coverage of Israel. The onus is nearly always on Israel to resolve the conflict, while essentially ignoring any sort of Palestinian accountability. Commonsense would affirm that agreements can only be achieved when two parties are in accord, but the Times writes as if the Palestinians have no independent agency of their own. It is tragic that the Times, which is ostensibly a guardian of anti-racism, treats the Palestinians in a sub-human manner.

Despite publishing Lewy's great rebuttal, the Times also published a terrible letter by a Ms. Andrea Whitmore, which is greatly lacking in both intellectual content and writing ability. In the letter, she shallowly asserts that American and Israeli interests are mutually exclusive, rather than frequently in accord. She also supports the conspiratorial notion that Israel will "enmesh us in another war" (as if Israel was responsible for the invasion of Iraq).

Does such meaningless drivel really deserve to published in the "paper of record"? And if it does, how does it reflect upon the publication?