FAIR Christians for Fair Witness on the Middle East

WITNESS 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 1960

New York, New York 10115

(212) 870-2320

www.christianfairwitness.com

Board of Directors

CHAIRMAN

G. Morris Gurley, Esq.

VICE-PRESIDENT

Hon. Peter F. Vallone

SECRETARY/ TREASURER
Prof. Dennis Hale

Executive Committee

Rev. Currie Burris

Rev. Dr. Bruce Chilton

Rev. Dr. Roy Howard

Rev. James Loughran, S.A.

Rev. Chip Larson

Rev. Dr. Peter Pettit

Rev. Dr. Steve Simmons

Rev. Dr. L.T. Archer Summers

Rev. Suzanne E. Wagner

Dexter VanZile

National Director

Sr. Ruth Lautt, O.P., Esq.

November 26, 2007

Via Electronic (editors@uscatholic.org) and Regular Mail

Letters To The Editor

U.S. Catholic

205 West Monroe Street

Chicago, Illinois 60606

What I read in Archbishop Elias Chacour’s article in U.S. Catholic (December 2007) seemed aimed not at a vision of peaceful coexistence in the Holy Land, but at one-sided condemnation of Israel.

When asked how hope can be instilled in young Palestinians, Archbishop Chacour’s response was “end the occupation.” The 2000/01 offer to end the “occupation” which would have included all of Gaza and about 97% of contiguous West Bank territory was met not with hope but with years of suicide bombing. When Israel ended the “occupation” (unilaterally) of Gaza in September 2005, this was likewise met not with an increase in hope but with a non-stop volley of Qassam rockets that continues to this day.

His Excellency undermines his claim to an agenda of “peace” by giving lip service to “not tolerat[ing] suicide bombers” but then explaining this barbaric phenomenon as if it were the wrong but understandable result of the Israeli “occupation.” Moreover, his statement that “Israel should open up to other countries . . .” is nothing but a thinly disguised call for a “one-state solution” where the Jewish state would cease to exist as it became part of one-state with the surrounding Arab nations. While I wholeheartedly agree with Archbishop Chacour’s support for an independent Palestinian state -- why would he deny this same right of statehood to the Jewish people?

Israel has frequently not administered the territories with sufficient compassion or respect for Palestinians. However, it was Palestinian terrorism that created a need for the security barrier and the checkpoints that have resulted in a choking of the Palestinian economy and much suffering and deprivation. Blaming Israel for everything will not solve the problem. Palestinians must take responsibility for their lives, dismantle the terrorist infrastructure and negotiate in good faith with the Jewish state for a two-state solution.

Very truly yours,

Sr. Ruth Lautt, O.P., Esq.

National Director