Oslo Accord Has Helped Limit Terror Attacks

 

By

 

Gidon D. Remba

The New York Times

August 28, 1997, Thursday, Late Edition - Final

Section A; Page 30; Column 4; Editorial Desk 
203 words

To the Editor:

Daniel R. Schaefer (letter, Aug. 24) argues that because the number of victims of terrorism has increased since the signing of the Oslo I accord as compared with the period before, "Israel has good reason to believe appeasement is not the answer to terrorism."

What he omits to say is that Israeli military spokesmen have stated that security cooperation with the Palestinian Authority has foiled dozens of attacks each year since Oslo. The absence of such cooperation -- born of the "appeasement" decried by Mr. Schaefer -- would have meant not less loss of Jewish life but more. Moreover, are the increased casualties caused by the failure of a policy of conciliation, or by increased opposition to that policy and its initial success?

The period before Oslo -- that "golden era" against which Mr. Schaefer favorably contrasts post-Oslo Israel -- was dominated by the intifada, Israeli military occupation and strained relations with the United States. It appears uncannily like where Israel may be headed today, under a Government less willing to trade land for peace and security, leaving the peace process in archeological ruin.
 
GIDON D. REMBA
Aug. 26, 1997

Copyright 1997 The New York Times Company