Let U.S. grant Israel commonwealth status
Let U.S. grant Israelcommonwealth status
EDITOR:
As the never-ending spiral of violence accelerates in Israel between the Jewish State and the Palestinians, a palpable sense of despair has set in on all sides. The dream of peaceful coexistence has never seemed more remote. However, there is an answer to the multigenerational strife that has consumed this twice Promised land. The answer lies in establishing Israel as a commonwealth of the United States.
Since its creation in 1948, Israel has maintained a special relationship with the United States. America was instrumental in defeating the Nazi juggernaut that had decimated the European Jewish community in the Holocaust, and America was the prime sponsor of Israeli statehood. The horrors of the Holocaust clearly elucidated the necessity for a Jewish state as an ultimate refuge for the Jewish people.
It is obvious from the present spiral of violence that the Israelis and Palestinians are completely incapable of negotiating a peace settlement without the imposition of terms from a powerful third party. The recent Saudi proposal for the full recognition of Israel's right to exist in return for a withdrawal to the 1967 borders, the internationalization of Jerusalem, and the settlement of the Palestinian refugee problem is the first glimpse of hope in a generation. The sole missing ingredient in this peace plan is an ironclad assurance to the Israelis that abiding by the plan will not militarily weaken their position in a future conflict.
The recent overwhelming American military success in Afghanistan and our crushing defeat of Iraq in 1990 has placed the United States at the pinnacle of world military power. There is no other nation on earth that will be in a position in the foreseeable future to challenge the U.S. militarily. Therefore, the establishment of Israel as a Commonwealth of the United States would similarly preclude an attack against the Jewish state. An attack on Israel would provoke the same response as an attack against the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
As a commonwealth of the United States, Israel would have a resident commissioner to sit in the House of Representatives. Israelis would maintain a locally autonomous government, but they would be eligible to serve in the U.S. armed forces, and they would be subject to all federal laws except the internal revenue statutes.
The benefit to the United States would be a complete resolution of an ongoing Middle East crisis that threatens to engulf the world in conflagration. An absence of conflict in that region would initiate an explosion of economic and social development throughout the Middle East and Africa, and it would unite all peoples and religions in peace.
MITCHELL S. FELDER, M.D.
Sharon
Keep Lockney behind bars where he belongs
EDITOR:
The recent press coverage of David Lockney's July prison release should leave this community questioning if their safety is really placed in competent hands. Does the parole board feel this man is suddenly rehabilitated? Does it feel he can honestly contribute positively to society?
I strongly believe the parole board needs to re-evaluate its decision, or maybe the board's members need to be relieved of their duties.
The average life expectancy is roughly 80 years. This man was sentenced to four life sentences. After serving 15 years, he is scheduled to be released July 8. Do the math. Something doesn't add up.
This man preyed on a vulnerable child, his own daughter at that. He attempted to plead innocent by insanity, then changed his plea to guilty after learning his victim was going to testify against him. He also attempted to use his drug use as a defense, but that failed.
This man appears to be a coward, always looking for excuses for his actions. The parole board needs to realize he does not need to be given another chance to use these excuses.
Our country is presently praying for a safe return of Elizabeth Smart, kidnaped out of her Salt Lake City home. We have in the recent past mourned for the van Dam and Ramsey children who were murdered. We now have this convicted child rapist behind bars where he can no longer hurt anyone. Let's keep him there.
CHRISSY FLESCH
Mineral Ridge