Letters
Iraqi parallels
25 April 2003
Dear Sir
Jonathan Freedland is right to point out (April 11) clear differences between Iraqi and Palestinian terror. Nevertheless, a degree of non-equivalence masks an important principle.
Yasir Arafat, like Saddam Hussein, is a demagogue who cannot be swayed by diplomacy and moderation. He has been presented with earlier road maps for peace but, in Abba Eban’s words, the Palestinians have “never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity.” Three years ago, Arafat chose suicidal terror over real statehood, an act of political suicide.
None of this is to deny the validity of a two-state settlement; nor would I deny that most Palestinians want the future that Freedland outlined. What they lack is a leadership that shares that historic vision and which is ready to reject violence as a political tool. Therein lies the difference with our own liberation movement. While Zionism had the Stern Gang and Irgun, their methods were rejected by mainstream Zionists. Could the same be said for the Palestinians?
Yours sincerely
Jeremy Havardi
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