Ramirez on Sharon and Palestinians

Michael Ramirez’s cartoon showing Ariel Sharon circled by dead bodies and asking for a moment of silence is intended to mock Sharon’s desire for no violence during peace talks with the Palestinians, should they occur (Commentary, Jan. 6). Ramirez misses the point, which is that if Yasser Arafat is a sponsor of violence, there is no reason to negotiate with him, since his promise is meaningless; if Arafat cannot stop the violence, his position as a negotiation partner is similarly worthless; and if Arafat can do neither of these things, then Israel must defend itself and there is no basis for negotiations.

Robert C. Gusman

Calabasas

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Ramirez’s cartoon showing Sharon demanding absolute silence from the subjugated people of Palestine is one of the most profound, simple expressions of truth in your paper’s history. Any civilized person must realize that until the brutal occupation and illegal settling of the “territories” is ended, there is no chance for peace between Israel and Palestine, or between the U.S. and the Muslim world.

Fred Davis

Desert Hot Springs