Rishi Kundi’s column (“Columnist enlightens ‘U’ about Middle East crisis,” SN 10/18) was unhelpful and misguided. At a time when Israel - the fourth most powerful army in the world - has virtually declared war on Palestinians - armed with rocks and old rifles - an article that contributed to truth and peace would have been far more appropriate.

As of this writing, 130 of 139 killed have been Palestinian. More than 4,000 have been injured. According to reports on the ground and personal e-mail from friends, some people are beginning to starve because of Israel’s siege on the occupied territories - food and medicine are being prohibited.

Armed Israeli settlers have been attacking Palestinians in their own homes and are currently destroying agricultural land with absolute impunity. There have been bombings of villages and the United Nations issued a report calling the killing of Palestinians “unprecedented.” In fact, Amnesty International has stated that the violations could constitute as war crimes. These events are not being told in our media, but one need only consult European media to realize how biased our media has been.

There was a belief that the 1993 Oslo Accords would bring peace. The Oslo Accords, which were neither based on international law nor mutual recognition, have been the topic of debate for Palestinians from day one. It is important to reiterate that peace has not been the subject for debate, but rather the process itself. While the Palestinian leadership effectively recognized Israel’s right to exist on 80 percent of what was Palestine, the Israelis have yet to recognize the Palestinians’ right to self-determination - a right guaranteed to every human being under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Yet, Palestinians have been expected to negotiate for this right as if it were some kind of reward. Military checkpoints have continued to exist between every urban center, settlements have continued to be built, and thousands of Palestinian homes have been demolished. Police brutality is the norm and despite a ban on torture by Israel’s high court, torture does continue. After the Camp David Summit, President Clinton blamed Palestinians for not going as far as Israeli Prime Minister Barak in trying to seal a deal. The Palestinians were confused by this revelation as the Israelis came into Camp David with several red “no’s,” including no right of return for Palestinian refugees, no return to 1967 borders, and no compromise on Jerusalem. Note that all three of these issues are governed by international laws and human rights conventions.

It is time for Israel to be held to the same standards as every nation - it is not above the law. Further, peace comes between equals and not between the occupier and the occupied. Palestinians want to be free. Who can fault them for that?

Sherri Muzher
1999 alumna