Letters to the Editor
The New York Times
To the Editor:
Re “America Must Recognize Palestine” (Nov. 29):
As a staunch advocate of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, I was appalled at Jimmy Carter's latest one-sided account of the decades-old struggle. His bias against Israel--he could only bring himself to talk, at length, about what’s wrong with Israeli policy--is disturbing enough, though not surprising.
Far more troubling is the counterproductive aspect of his recommendation for the United States to recognize a Palestinian state. Will such a step actually bring the parties closer to peace or farther away?
The core of the problem remains as it always has been: the need for Palestinians finally to accept the legitimacy of a Jewish state, to stop celebrating terrorists who murder Israeli civilians and to negotiate directly with Israel.
Productive recommendations would speak to how to bring Palestinians closer to these necessary steps. Recognition of a Palestinian state by the U.S. will signal to the Palestinians they are gaining ground without doing anything to move away from their old war against Israel.
Mr. Carter’s prescription is unfair to Israel. Far worse, it keeps Palestinians stuck in the same cycle that has been harmful to them for so long.
Sincerely,
Jonathan A. Greenblatt
CEO