Dear Editor:
The countries of the UN should spend their time trying to have the Palestinian Authority, Fatah, and Hamas convert their mindset to destroy Israel, rather than waste their time on Israeli settlements.
Were the West Bank settlements the reason why the Arabs attacked Israel in 1948, when the UN resolution established Arab segments and the establishment of the Jewish state?
Were the West Bank settlements the reason in 1964 when the PLO and its 29-clause charter were created to destroy Israel? Charter clause 24 stated, “this organization does not exercise any sovereignty in the West Bank or Gaza.”
Were the West Bank settlements the problem in 1967 when Egypt forced the UN troops to leave the Sinai? The UN troops were stationed in the Sinai to prevent Egypt from attacking Israel.
Were the West Bank settlements the problem in 1967 when Egypt closed the Tiran Straits to Israel ships? This was an act of war.
Were the West Bank settlements the problem in 1967, when Egypt and Syria massed hundreds of thousands of troops and tanks ready to attack Israel?
Were the West Bank settlements the problem in 1968, when the Palestinian National Council (PNC) slightly amended the 1964 charter by eliminating clause 24 and adding clauses to use “armed struggle” to “liberate” Palestine? The same PNC is the only entity which can change the charter (1968 charter clause 33).
Were the West Bank settlements the problem when the PNC issued its 10-clause Political Programme in June 1974 after the Yom Kippur War? This document stated that the aim of “the Palestinian National Authority will strive to achieve a union of the confrontation countries, with the aim of completing the liberation of all Palestinian territory, and as a step along the road to comprehensive Arab unity.”
Were the West Bank settlements the problem when Arafat sent a Sept 1993 letter to Rabin in which he listed a series of PLO promises of peace which were all contradictions of the 1968 charter? The last sentence of Arafat’s Sept 1993 letter stated, “consequently, the PLO undertakes to submit to the Palestinian National Council for formal approval the necessary changes in regard to the Palestinian Covenant.”
There has never been a valid PNC recognition of Israel. There has never been a change of one word in the 1968 charter. The Fatah, the PLO, and Hamas still have formal documents calling for the destruction of Israel. There is no Palestinian document in existence to show that there has ever been a change in their mindset to destroy Israel.
Respectfully,
William K. Langfan
(This letter to the editor was written on 1/3/2017)