The New York Times · 16 April 1982

CP-1982-072

An Israeli Initiative for Palestinian Moderates

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Transcribed from the clipping

To the Editor: The Camp David accords are at a stalemate primarily because P.L.O. intimidation has prevented any Palestinians from participating in the autonomy talks.

In accordance with this reality, as well as pressure from nations which eagerly look forward to the demise of Camp David, Israel has embarked on an active policy on the West Bank to reduce P.L.O. coercion and allow for non-P.L.O. representatives of the Palestinians to step forward. Will the policy work? No one knows.

But it is an earnest attempt — indeed, the first attempt by any party — to take control away from the rejectionist and terrorist P.L.O. It is therefore particularly dismaying that Anthony Lewis has chosen to distort this Israeli effort to bring forth moderates by saying that “Israel is trying, by force, to bring a million Palestinians under its permanent control.”

(“Destroying the Dream,” April 1 column). There is no factual basis for that assertion. Can we possibly induce Mr. Lewis to use his journalistic energies to expose repeated P.L.O. assassinations of West Bank moderates and to advocate an approach to protect those who would negotiate peace with Israel? The simple reality, which Mr. Lewis ignores but which Mr.

Sadat recognized and which many in Israel have long recognized, is that the way for the Arabs in the West Bank and Gaza to gain the most for themselves is to sit down and negotiate under the terms of Camp David. Israel is trying one approach to encourage local participation in government. If those such as Mr.

Lewis are unhappy with it, let them find constructive ways to deal with P.L.O. intimidation — the obstacle to progress — instead of mounting irrelevant and inaccurate ideological attacks against the State of Israel. MAXWELL E.

GREENBERG National Chairman, Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith Los Angeles, April 5, 1982 Occupation ‘Taxes’ To the Editor: As a future emigrant to Israel who has lived there for several years, I feel compelled to respond to Irwin Schermer's attack (letter April 2) on Anthony Lewis's views of the current situation in the occupied territories.

As an American Zionist, I have had the unique and fortunate experience of maintaining a friendship with a number of Palestinian refugees in the West Bank. Our relationship dates back to 1973, when they first welcomed me into [illegible] lives. Since then I have witness[illegible] firsthand the increased repression Mr. Lewis has accurately portrayed in column after column.

To claim, as Mr. Schermer does, that there may exist in the West Bank more personal and political freedom than in any Arab country in the Middle East is a pathetic, if accurate, statement. Has Israel fully abandoned its own democratic values and replaced them with the morality of its repressive neighbors? Contrary to Mr. Schermer's belief, Mr.

Lewis has accurately reported the extended detention without charges of West Bank residents. I know of numerous victims of this Israeli harassment, so widespread that the Palestinians I know refer to the treatment as “taxes” they must all endure under the occupation. We are all witnessing a callous, if not evil, display of subjugation. Maybe Messrs.

Begin, Sharon and Schermer have been visited by some divine spirit that has approved the current policies, for common sense is surely missing from their logic, unless, of course, the goal is total and permanent domination of the areas.

And how long will Jews of this country stand by in silence as our brethren in the homeland expropriate Palestinian land, censor newspapers, discard elected officials, imprison without due process and ignore the fact that the P.L.O. has captured the hearts and minds of the people?

In this season, which celebrates freedom, in our case from the ancient Egyptians, it is ironic how we have created a role for ourselves as masters. There are many of us who desperately care for the future of Israel, where we intend to continue the rebirth and to work toward a better society for all. We only pray that it's not too late. STEVE EINSTEIN New York, April 4, 1982

How this transcription was made

Single scan, three columns of a letters page carrying two letters. Transcribed from 5x crops of each column. — The running head on this clipping is cut: only the left end survives, reading “FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1982”. The date is therefore confirmed from the page; the paper's name is NOT — it was on the cut-off portion. April 16, 1982 was a Friday, which is consistent. Paper taken on Maria's label. — Two short gaps in the second letter, both from ink dropout on the scan, both in column 2: “when they first welcomed me into [illegible, 3–4 characters, almost certainly the end of a word broken by damage] lives”, and “Since then I have witness[illegible, 1–2 characters] firsthand”. Left as gaps rather than filled in.

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