Mideast ‘deal’ in no one’s interest
By Hind Kabawat
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters/article/892543--mideast-deal-in-no-one-s-interest

Published On Thu Nov 18 2010

Re: Netanyahu agrees to push freeze on new settlements, Nov. 15

As a Zionist who longs for peace in the Middle East, which requires a fair and just settlement for both Jews and Palestinians in Israel and Palestine, I am dismayed by President Barack Obama’s unprincipled “deal” to restart peace talks.

The expansion of settlements is like poison in the well of goodwill. How can Palestinians sustain the hope of peace when a brief settlement freeze — that does not even include East Jerusalem — is exchanged for more military power? After 90 days, the freeze will be over and no constraints on expansion into what must become Palestinian territory will remain.

Even Israeli citizens know this is spitting in the eye of the best chance they have had for reasonable negotiations. Is this in Israel’s long term interest? It is not!

I urge the Canadian government to speak out on behalf of justice, fairness and the ever diminishing hope of a peaceful future.

Dr. Barbara Landau, Co- Chair, Canadian Association of Jews and Muslims, Toronto