Regarding "Another side of terrorism in the Middle East" by Gary Field

RE: Another side of terrorism in the Middle East
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070406/news_lz1e6fields.html

Dear Editor,

Thank you for publishing Gary Field's revealing column "Another side of terrorism in the Middle East " giving US at least a glimpse of Israels' endless crimes against the people of Palestine. However I must disagree with how he defines the "conflict".

The core of this escalating mess is not about land or religion- it is about the blatant bigotry and injustice of political Zionism. Resolution depends on full respect for international law and the Palestinians basic human rights, including but not limited to the Palestinian refugees inalienable right to return.

Modern man made Israel is rock solid proof that arming religion with angst plus a full arsenal of lethal weaponry works to gain temporary power for a select group of ideologues willing to profit from ill gotten gains... but in the end only true democracy with full and equal rights for ALL will bring true prosperity.

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070406/news_lz1e6fields.html



Another side of terrorism in the Middle East

By Gary Fields
April 6, 2007

..... "Last year, Sabatin took me on a tour of his land and told me how settlers from Bettar Illit burn and vandalize his remaining olive and fruit trees on a daily basis. As we walked through his fields, I was able to see olive and fig tree branches shorn from their trunks and scattered on the ground. I also saw several still-smoldering piles of ash, olive trees burned just that morning. “What can I do” Sabatin asked me repeatedly. I never knew what to say.

These settlers from Bettar Illit actually want Sabatin to take flight from his land. They are trying to force him to make a “choice” about whether it is worth it to remain. With enough pressure, perhaps he will finally relent and give it up.

Now, it appears that the settlement has handed Sabatin an ultimatum. Two weeks ago settlers again set fire to some of his olive trees, but this time the fire burned out of control. The firefighting unit from the settlement had to extinguish the blaze. What they did next, however, is befitting of the term Orwellian.

The governing council of Bettar Illit informed Sabatin that it would charge him 7,000 Israeli shekels ($1,600) for the cost of extinguishing the fires since they occurred on his land. This is an amount of money well beyond his means. They gave him until today to remit the money and informed him that failure to pay would result in the settlement confiscating the rest of his land. Sabatin was frantically and desperately trying to find a way to keep his land as the deadline given to him by the settlement approached. Even if he pays the amount, however, what is to prevent extortion such as this from occurring again?"