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Twin Town High (vol. 8) |
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Letters to the Editor & a Correction and Addition
Wednesday 09 October @ 09:08:48 |
 Re: Scott Laderman's letter-Pulse 9.18.02
Correction and Addition: Re: Peter McLaughlin
Re: Scott Laderman's letter-Pulse 9.18.02
Laderman cites various examples to support his assertion that “at least since the mid-1970s, the P.L.O. has, unlike successive Labor and Likud governments in Israel, endorsed the principle of a two-state settlement and repeatedly embraced negotiations to that effect.”
In the absence of time or space to provide more information for all of Laderman's examples, I will focus on the one that struck me the most.
Laderman writes: “In November 1978, Yasser Arafat issued a statement indicating that “[t]he P.L.O. will accept an independent Palestinian state consisting of the West Bank and Gaza, with connecting corridor, and in that circumstance will renounce any and all violent means to enlarge the territory of that state.” In the same decree he promised that “[w]e will give de facto recognition to the state of Israel.”
That statement was issued on Nov. 26, 1978. On Nov. 12, 1978 (24 days prior), in Mecca, Arafat addressed a gathering of 1.6 million Muslim pilgrims and called for the world's 500 million Muslims to enlist in a “holy war” and wrest the old sector of Jerusalem and its ancient Muslim shrines from the Israelis (AP, 11/12/78).
On Nov. 19, 1978 (one week prior to the statement), a bomb exploded on an intercity bus packed with Israelis and tourists in the West bank. Four persons were killed and 37 wounded. Yasser Arafat's Fatah guerrillas claimed responsibility for the attack, saying an “underground squad acting inside occupied Palestine planted a timed heavy explosive charge in an enemy bus (AP, 11/19/78).”
On Nov. 26, Arafat's statement was released, but it was not made formally to the Israelis or even announced in Arabic, it was communicated through United States Rep. Paul Findley, R-III. In the same statement, Arafat said he believed Anwar Sadat would be overthrown as a traitor for negotiating peace with Israel. (AP, 11/26/78).
A few months later, on Jan. 11, 1979, Arafat addressed a crowd at the Yarmuk refugee camp, saying in Arabic “the Palestine Revolution, which came out...to say fight until Tel Aviv and until victory is achieved ...because light and hope will emerge from the rifles of our fighters marching to Palestine and to Jerusalem. Ours is a Revolution until victory (Voice of Palestine, 1/11/79).”
On March 4, 1979, Israeli authorities reported that the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv railroad was bombed. Yasser Arafat's Palestinian guerrillas claimed responsibility for the attack. My intention is not to disprove Laderman's position and continue the sprial of historical and ideological rhetoric. I'm just disappointed at how much historical bickering and blame-laying I see. Sometimes the problems of today are so imposing that we should put aside the arguments of yesterday and focus on the present reality. I think this is one of those situations.
Bruno Bornsztein
Correction and addition:
Last week we quoted Peter McLaughlin as saying, “I promised Wells Fargo we'd give them a flyover lane to 28th Street if they bought the Honeywell campus.” Peter McLaughlin says he never said anything like this. Tom McGreevy said that's what he thought Peter said. It is probable that there was a meeting of elected officials and local business people last year at which Peter McLaughlin probably said something about Wells Fargo being pleased with the prospect of a flyover lane for their employees and visitors. It is possible that that message was construed to mean that the flyover lane was part of sweeteners for Wells Fargo in purchasing the buildings. In any case, it is apparent that Peter McLaughlin supports the flyover lane.
By the way, if there is someone out there who doesn't know it yet, Ed Felien [that's me] is running against Peter McLaughlin for a seat on the County Board, and the flyover lane is kind of a big deal to people who live in the West Phillips Neighborhood.
Ed Felien
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