Israel is fighting to protect itself

Israel became a nation in 1312 B.C.E., 2000 years before the rise of Islam. Jews have had a presence in the land for the past 3300 years. Jerusalem was founded by King David. Mohammed never came to Jerusalem. In 1947, modern Israel was established by international agreement and the United Nations.

In 1948, Arab leaders encouraged all Arabs (Palestinians) to leave Israel, promising to purge the land of Jews. About 630,000 Arabs (68%) left Israel. About 650,000 Jews were forced to flee Arab lands soon after due to threats of brutality and persecution. For some reason, Palestinians were never accepted into the Arab societies that recruited them. They still live in poverty and isolation in refugee communities in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt. Israel openly welcomed the Jews fleeing Arab lands.

The 1967 war was due to the threat of invasion by one or more of the eight Arab nations. Israel properly took steps to defend itself and secure it's borders along Jordan, Syria Lebanon and Egypt. The Israelis were fighting for survival, as they are today.

The Palestinian Liberation Organization charter still calls for the destruction of the State of Israel. The many overtures for establishment of an official Palestinian state have been rebuffed by the P.L.O and Yasser Arafat. Today, the Palestinians Arabs suffer due to their own terrorism, their rejection of peace proposals, and their determination to destroy Israel and the Jewish people.

Congressman Lantos understands fear and oppression from his own life experience. He rightly supports the efforts of Israel to preserve it's nation and the Jewish people.

Tom Elliott

San Mateo<