PACs Influence
U.S. on Israel

I have read with interest a letter published in the Aug. 16 issue of The Herald written by Neal Richardson which says Palestinians want peace. I also read a letter published in The Herald Aug. 23 issue written by Monroe E. Mayer which says Palestinians really don’t want peace.

I would have to say I side with Mr. Richardson. Having spent 30 years of my life living and traveling in the Middle East, I am convinced the average Palestinian wants peace, but they want it according to the U.N. Resolution #242, which tells Israel to get back to the agreed-upon borders of 1967. Resolution #242 has been agreed upon by just about every nation in the world, but with two exceptions, Israel and the U.S.

Why is the U.S. so supportive of what Israel does to her neighbors in this part of the world? The answer is very obvious. Just about every member of Congress has accepted campaign contributions to improve their chances of being elected or re-elected to Congress. The campaign contributors I refer to come from pro-Israel PAC groups. When a Congressman accepts money from a PAC group, it is understood that he/she will vote favorably in support of that PAC’s agenda. In return for millions of dollars in campaign contributions to these politicians, Israel receives billions of dollars in military and economic aid from American taxpayers.

I suggest Mr. Mayer read former President Jimmy Carter’s book titled, "Peace, Not Apartheid." He writes, "there will be no substantive and permanent peace for any peoples in this troubled region as long as Israel violates key U.N. resolutions, official American policy, the international ‘road map’ for peace, by occupying Arab land and oppressing the Palestinians. Except for mutually agreed negotiated modifications, Israel’s official 1967 borders must be honored."

Bob Long

Hancock