JEFF JACOBY'S April 5 column "Finally, harsh realism from Israel" claims that the new Israeli foreign minister will support the so-called road map as an approach to resolving Israel's conflict with the Palestinians. However, this Israeli government, like its predecessors, has little interest in complying with its obligations. In fact, the Likud Party platform of incoming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and several coalition partners repudiate the main premise of the agreement: a commitment to the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state.

Phase 1 of the road map calls for dismantling settlement outposts established since March 2001 and freezing "all settlement activity (including natural growth of settlements)" as well as halting "confiscation and/or demolition of Palestinian homes and property" and "easing restrictions on movement of persons and goods" in the West Bank and Gaza. None of this has happened. All indications are that seizure of Palestinian land and expansion of the settlements will continue under the new right-wing Israeli government. Meanwhile, plans for the destruction of Palestinian neighborhoods in East Jerusalem and their further isolation from the rest of the West Bank are being accelerated.

This is not "harsh realism"; it is a continuing Israeli policy of bad faith that claims to support "peace" while laying the foundation for permanent occupation and colonization. Let us hope that the Obama administration will call an end to tacit US support for this cruel charade.

Jeff Klein

Dorchester

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