Occupation vs. 'Psychological Security'

The Washington Post is right in its Sept. 30 editorial "The Middle East 'Peace Process' " that under Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, "the Israelis are at pains to deny the goal of statehood that the Palestinians regard as the prize." However, self-determination, statehood and the right to live free of military occupation are not "a prize" but are fundamental human rights belonging to the Palestinian people as much as any other.

The Post rationalizes the Israeli and American denial of these rights by claiming that "Palestinians have yet to muster a strong enough showing for the psychological as well as physical security that is the prime Israeli goal." It is an absurd imposition to make the realization of Palestinian human rights contingent on the conditions of Israeli psychology.

Obviously, genuine security can never emerge under the oppressive conditions of occupation and settlement. Therefore, Palestinian statehood is actually in the interests not only of Palestinians but of everyone in the region and the world, including those Israelis whose primary goal is stability, peace and security.

Unfortunately, many Israelis, including ministers in Mr. Netanyahu's cabinet, view much of the West Bank as an inherent part of Eretz Yisrael, which must not and cannot be under any other sovereignty than Israel's. It is this view, and not the need for "psychological security," that has motivated the current Israeli government's deliberate sabotaging of the Oslo agreements and obstruction of the peace process.

HUSSEIN IBISH

Media Director

Arab American

Anti-Discrimination Committee

Washington