Inbox

Israel's Way Forward

Re your story "Can Israel Survive?" [Jan. 19]: I propose that the U.S. say, "Israel, we love and support you but not your unethical occupation of Palestinian territory. If you really recognize the right to the existence of a Palestinian state, prove it by getting out of the occupied territories. You might say, 'Well, we did, in Gaza--and look how that turned out!' But the moral high ground would be yours. And you would certainly have more worldwide sympathy and support as the Palestinians continue to bad-mouth your right to exist." Larry Sarner, HAIKU, HAWAII

If going back to pre-1967 borders will bring peace, why was that not enough for Israel's neighbors, who in 1967 sought to eradicate Israel? If there is to be peace, it will take two to tango. And right now, Hamas is not ready to dance. Steve Fox, TEANECK, N.J.

The U.S. holds the definitive key to lasting peace in the Middle East. Let's hope that the new Administration will apply tough love in its relations with Israel. Leonard Amada, WHITING, N.J.

Can Israel win? Depends on how you define win. Some would say that every day the Jewish state continues to exist, grow and even prosper is a victory. It's sobering that both fronts where Israel most recently withdrew to the last inch of the international border--Lebanon and Gaza--are used as staging grounds for launching rockets at our civilians. If we need to fight once every few years, we'll do it. Shuki Raz, RAMAT GAN, ISRAEL

Revisiting Ariel Sharon v. TIME

In his "To Our Readers" letter, managing editor Richard Stengel asserts the honesty of the magazine in its coverage of the Middle East, saying, "People still recall the libel suit we won against Ariel Sharon in 1985" [Jan. 19]. For the sake of fairness, I would like to remind you of what occurred: a New York jury held that TIME's article was defamatory and false and that TIME had acted "negligently and carelessly" but held that Sharon, my father, had been unable to prove it was written "with actual malice or reckless disregard." The case was therefore dismissed. The case was also brought before an Israeli court, which agreed that TIME was guilty of defamation; TIME paid court costs and compensation. If such a judgment is a victory, we have different concepts of honesty. Gilad Sharon, SHIKMIM FARMS, ISRAEL

Unlocking a Mystery Illness

Thank you for John Cloud's insightful article on borderline personality disorder [Jan. 19]. My mother suffered terribly from this condition her entire life. She endured harsh side effects from countless medications that did not work, multiple hospitalizations and shock treatments--all to no avail. Her deep spirituality was the only thing that kept her fragile relationships intact and prevented her from committing suicide. I applaud Marsha Linehan's methods and wish they had been used in my mother's case. It's too late for her, but I pray that future generations will benefit from Linehan's techniques and perhaps be spared the intense pain of this mystifying and debilitating disorder. Nancy Leggio, BROOKLYN, N.Y.

The Legacy of Donald Rumsfeld