Pointing fingers

Editor, The Times:

I thought Thomas Friedman made some good points in his column “Untouched by Arab Spring,” especially how seeing ordinary Palestinians declare publicly their acceptance of a Jewish state along side their own would move the stalemated peace process forward [Opinion, May 26]. Too bad that hasn’t happened yet, and, as Friedman tacitly admits, is not very likely to happen soon.

What I don’t understand is why Friedman seems to ignore the fact that the current stalemate is the result of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ refusal to negotiate with Israel at all.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu froze settlement construction for 10 months while publicly begging the Palestinians to come to the table. Abbas refused then, and still refuses even now.

Netanyahu has said repeatedly he supports an independent Palestinian state and remains willing to negotiate with Abbas any time.

What more does Friedman (or Abbas, for that matter) want, and how is this stalemate Netanyahu’s fault, even in part?

— David Shayne, Seattle

Two states for two peoples

Although I agreed with almost nothing else in Thomas Friedman’s column, his idea that ordinary Palestinians should take to the streets to demonstrate with olive branches and signs stating, “Two states for two peoples,” is brilliant.

Unfortunately, his dreamy visions of demonstrations in Jerusalem are woefully or willfully blind to truth — particularly for this grizzled Middle East “expert.” While the world knows Israel wants, waits and prays for “two states for two peoples,” the Palestinians have forcefully and violently demonstrated they do not.

Friedman has somehow missed the last 63 years of history. If peace is the objective, Palestinians should march in Rafah and Ramallah and wave their signs and olive branches at their own leaders.

There is no peace because there has never been an enlightened Palestinian leader with the courage or the humanity to say, “We accept the existence of a Jewish state.” Peace will come when Palestinian leaders say these words, not to the Israelis — although that would open the door to a secure and lasting peace to their own people.

— Robert Wilkes, Bellevue