Letter from Larry Shapiro, Calgary, to the New York Times in Response to Thomas Friedman

Dear Editor,

The Palestinian Authority rewards and honors terrorists. It is poisoning the minds of children and adults. It is staging public prayers for the genocide of Jews. This is not a people who can be expected to live peacefully with the Jewish state, and no one understands this better than Benjamin Netanyahu who, unlike other Israeli prime ministers confronted with the same foundational antisemitism, refuses to play the “let’s give the Palestinians their own country and live happily forever after game” demanded by the international community, none of whom have to actually live next to a people who celebrate the death of their children for killing Jews.

Netanyahu yearns for peace but he is clear eyed in understanding that it will take generations for the Palestinians to prepare themselves for peaceful coexistence with Israel. This is unfairly interpreted by Thomas Friedman who accuses Netanyahu of refusing to accept a two state solution.

Countries like the UK and Canada have recognized Palestine on the condition that it abandons its hatred of Jews and Israel while they are failing to apply pressure on the Palestinians. This enables the Palestinians to avoid reforming their culture leading to a further delay in their achieving statehood.

Larry Shapiro, Calgary, Alberta