Mideast Peace Quest

* Re “The Election Produces No Winner,” Opinion, Feb. 11: William Schneider argues that Ehud Barak went as far as necessary for peace, and it was Palestinian stubbornness and ingratitude that kept them from accepting Camp David. The reality is that Barak, although offering much, also wanted a complete “end to the conflict.” As such, all outstanding issues had to be settled. The refugees are as much Yasser Arafat’s constituents as are those in the occupied lands.

Final peace is possible, but Israel must accept an intact Palestinian state, not offer a glorified Bantustan (e.g., apartheid South Africa) subdivided by a network of Israeli roads, as Barak did. Israelis and Jews also must realize that Jewish love for Jerusalem does not constitute a trump card that sweeps away the depth of feeling of the world’s 1.2 billion Muslims for that tortured city. An Israeli acknowledgment of the right of return, but with practical limits on the actual number of Palestinians who enter Israel, would, I believe, allow a final peace to be realized. Ariel Sharon has no solution; Israel’s choice is continued occupation and violence or a peace based on real justice for Palestinians’ legitimate rights.

NAYYER ALI

Huntington Beach