Britannia Radio

WILLIAM K. LANGFAN Member of the Board of Directors Freeman Center For Strategic Studies  FAX # (561) 533-5118                                                                                                       February 18, 2010     Dear Editor:   The Israeli settlement issue is a red herring rallying point for people who do not want to pay attention to the facts of the Palestinian/Israeli conflict.   There were no Israeli settlements in the West Bank in 1948, when all the surrounding Arab states attacked when the UN established Israel. There were no Israeli settlements from the 1949 Arab/Israeli armistice until the 1967 war, during which time Israel was attacked by a variety of Palestinian terrorists. There were no Israeli settlements in 1964, when the PLO created its charter, declaring that the establishment of Israel was illegal and that armed conflict was necessary to eliminate the Zionist entity.   Now we are asked to believe that the settlements and Israel's existence in the West Bank are the obstacles to peace.  There is no credible evidence that the mind-set to destroy Israel declared by the Palestinian leaders in their Charters, constitution and their speeches before Israel had the West Bank, has changed or would change if Israel were to dismantle the settlements and did leave the West Bank.     Respectfully submitted,     William K. Langfan