Palestinian’s ordeal

Thank you for printing Scott Canon’s story of Yaser Wishah (8/4, A-1, “Native Palestinian can’t escape stigma; Visiting the Gaza Strip, Yaser Wishah endured a lengthy ordeal as he tried to return home to Olathe”).

For years I have admired the strength and endurance of Palestinians living or visiting the Gaza Strip. I find heartrending that Israel not only blocks entries and exits but controls their fuel, their food, their electricity and uses collective punishment to respond to the actions of a few. I often wonder how I would respond to such living conditions.

It is way past time for the United States to stop supporting such punitive actions by the Israeli government.

Mary Sumner
Independence

Thank you for Wishah’s story. It goes to prove that we don’t have to buy into the vitriol that often accompanies stories of this sort. The real point is that fear has been used to justify the systematic denial of our rights to American citizens.

Yes, we must be vigilant, but we should also get to know the people next door, even if they are different. We should remember that Israelis and Palestinians are human beings, and there is injustice on both sides that must be stopped. I applaud The Star for its coverage.

Jeff Humfeld
Kansas City

There are two sides to every story. Thank you to The Star for illustrating the frustration Yaser Wishah was forced to endure. Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza endure these hardships and worse daily.

Israel will not be secure without agreeing to a just, viable, two-state solution. Our government should help both sides achieve this goal.

We U.S. citizens need to be better informed. Balanced media coverage accurately portraying life in Israel and in Palestine is essential.

Janet Baker
Leawood

Comments

[solomon]

How were the Palestinians treated before they started lobbing rockets and sending in suidide bombers? Their homes were bulldozed and their lands were taken. Israel has never honored a treaty that called for limits on their expansion and settlements. Terrorism is not something I defend, so thats not why I said no, but israel is not without blame in this confrontation.

[Marctnts]

I agree with Rogue on this one. You can only pick on your big brother and complain about his retaliation for so long before Mom and Dad wise up to the situation.

Want to stop Israel checkpoints, rationing, etc? Stop giving them a reason to do it.

[GCYL]

Yes.

[stone]

for once I actually agree with Rogue. How scary.

[solomon]

No

[Rogue]

Y'all ever think that if Palestine would stop lobbing rockets into school yards in Israel, and sending people into pizza parlors in Israel with bombs strapped to them, that things might just improve in Palestine?