Israel's restraint

Sir, - This has reference to the editorial, ``Trench War Of Angst In West Asia'' (Aug. 13), I would like to emphasis a few points.

Mr. Ariel Sharon is an elected Prime Minister and not an ultra- nationalist hawk. He is conducting a policy of restraint to prevent terror against Israeli citizens. There is no agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority allowing Orient House to be political headquarters of the Palestinians.

Israel positively accepted the social, economic and cultural activities carried on by the Palestinians from Orient House but any kind of political activity is not acceptable and is a breach of the Oslo agreement.

Jewish settlers are not living on any portion of the territory handed to the Palestinian Authority by agreement. The future of the settlements is one of the subjects on the negotiating table. The issue will be dealt with when the negotiation starts again.

The Mitchell report recommends four major steps. Unfortunately, the first one, complete ceasefire and stopping violence, was not mentioned in the editorial, while the other three were. Israel is committed to all of them. Once the first step of ceasefire and stopping violence is established, the others will follow.

Israel objects to allowing international monitors into the areas and strongly believes that they will not be able to spot the Palestinian terror-perpetrators. Israel has no complaints against Indian soldiers on U.N. assignment. Jerusalem is the capital of Israel where the Israeli Government is located. Using the phrase ``Tel Aviv'' for describing the Government is incorrect.

Yaron Mayer,

First Secretary,

Press & Political Affairs,

Embassy of Israel, New Delhi

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Section  : Opinion
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