Palestinians paid the price for European crimes Re: “Palestinians turned down their own state,” Letters, June 7
David Frishberg justifies Israeli intransigence in his disagreement on a Palestinian state. He sidesteps several facts, to wit:
1. Biblical history should not be permitted to supplant relevant history lest one proclaims, “This land is mine; God has so given.”
2. The five Arab armies who “gang-attacked the infant state of Israel” viewed the formation of Israel as an invasion of Europeans who sought amnesty for their crimes against the Jews. So Arab Palestine must then pay the price?
3. Mr. Frishberg becomes xenophobic, if not racist, in lumping Palestinians with some sort of Arab monolith. Major Arab monarchies not only detest the Palestinians, but do a brisk trade with Israel.
4. Occupation has never succeeded in world history, yet for over 40 years Israel has bound and tortured many Palestinians. The “peace process” is a forgery.
5. The Palestinians were also victims of that long, extended Cold War in which the U.S. established Israel as its Mideast “outpost” vis-a-vis the Russians.
Edward Abramic
Washington
Another reason to cut Planned Parenthood funding
Re: “Indiana: Abortion law for government to decide,” June 6
While Planned Parenthood argues in court that Indiana taxpayers must fund it, an example of why PP should not receive taxpayer funding can be found in Ohio.
In 2004, Ohio barred the use of abortion drug RU-486 unless administered in compliance with a Food and Drug Administration directive that it not be used past the seventh week. The FDA issued the directive because RU-486 abortions have resulted in women’s deaths and numerous adverse effects. PP freely concedes that they ignore this directive.
Planned Parenthood even sued to have the Ohio law overturned, claiming it was vague, required women to have surgical abortions and was an “undue burden” for women. After PP tied the law up for seven years, the court finally and summarily rejected all PP’s arguments last month.
PP’s use of RU-486 — putting profits over women’s safety — is yet another reason why this group does not deserve funding.
Diane Hess
Damascus, Md.
International vaccine program saves lives
Re: “UNICEF discloses vaccine prices for first time,” May 28
Forty-seven years ago, I nearly lost my first child to a diarrheal disease caused by the rotavirus, which kills about 2 million children each year in the developing world. Since 2006, a new vaccine has made these deaths preventable.
The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization is the primary funder of vaccines purchased by UNICEF. GAVI aggregates worldwide demand for vaccines. To date, our government has contributed $646.7 million to GAVI. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation contributed twice as much ($1.3 billion) because vaccines are the most cost-effective tool to reduce child mortality.
In 10 years, the U.S. contribution to GAVI went from 50 percent to 12 percent. Let’s not cut any further. Not all budget cuts are equal. Some cost human lives.
Bruno Walker
Oakton
