Letters: Jun. 23, 1967

The Man & the Papyrus Tiger

Sir: Perhaps it is a little early, but for Man of the Year, I propose General Moshe Dayan [June 16]. If he doesn't have it, it isn't worth having.

LISA ALLIOLI Napa, Calif.

Sir: Neither the U.N. nor any great power has the right to dictate the peace to a victorious Israel. The spineless withdrawal of U.N. troops was in large part responsible for the conflict, as was Russia's arming of Egypt and Syria. The U.S., whose foreign policy has made a sacred cow out of the status quo everywhere in the world, did little to help Israel. Those who think the Arab-Israeli confrontation is over are living in a dream world. Nasser will be back. Syria will be back. And if Israel has a right to exist, it also has the right to the means to continue that existence.

JOSEPH W. MOSSER Monte Carlo

Sir: The U.S. position in the Middle East crisis is less than laudable. "Neutrality in thought, word and deed" when the tiny land of Israel was threatened with annihilation by the collective armies of 14 nations will not be regarded as neutrality by future historians.

DAVID SHANDER, M.D. Denver

Sir: The perennial Middle East threat to the peace re-emphasizes the need for a permanent solution to control of key international waterways. The Suez Canal and the Gulf of Aqaba should be internationalized under irrevocable U.N. control. The world cannot permit Nasser to use those shipping lanes as instruments of national policy, to be turned on or off at will. Although Nasser wished to be the hero of a holy war of annihilation of Israel, the would-be tiger of the Nile has now earned the title of Papyrus Tiger.

SAMUEL B. RUSSELL Reading, Pa.

Sir: Your Mideast coverage illustrates the ineffectiveness of the U.N. as a peacekeeper. U Thant's wishy-washy attempt to discuss the issue with Nasser, his pulling out of troops, and the pointless speeches by delegates show the urgent need for reform.

MICHAEL J. FLYNN Orinda, Calif.

Sir: I am not a Jew, nor am I an Arab. I am an American who views the developments in the Middle East with not a little irritation. Is anyone insane enough to believe that tiny Israel would provoke war against the military might of the entire United Arab Republic? Come now! Let's dispense with diplomatic doubletalk. We all know who provoked this war, we all know why, we all know the outcome.

JOE WALDMAN Columbus, Ohio

Sir: If the U.S. is going to be a force for peace in the Middle East, we must include with our sympathy for the Zionists a certain empathy for the Arabs. Americans find it hard to see why the Arabs persist in not recognizing Israel. But Americans would do well to remember that the U.S. refuses to recognize the governments of China and East Germany, which are permanent realities just as Israel is.

JAY A. EKMAN Union Theological Seminary Manhattan

Sir: While in the Middle East last winter, I fell in love with the Jordanians most of all. But today my hat's off to Israel. What a tableau: There it stood, tiny and alone, cursed and menaced on every border by 14 scowling enemies. Yet today—"how are the mighty fallen!" But beginning with Abraham himself, Jewish history is replete with amazing exploits like this. Guts and stamina—the Israelis have them. Hail!