Baker’s Warning to the Israelis

Secretary of State James Baker delivered a strong warning to the pro-Israel lobbying organization, saying that Israel must be realistic and give up territorial claims (Part I, May 23).

I will ask a very simple question of Baker. When has our country ever given up territories won in a war?

But more importantly, the Israelis didn’t start the wars they won; they fought hard to survive only after being attacked and because of superiority in strength--not in numbers of personnel--they won.

I don’t see the U.S. giving up New Mexico or any other part of our county--and I have never noted our country returning land to the Indians that we took with or without fighting for it.

Let’s be realistic. If the Israelis were to give up the territories they would be committing suicide, pure and simple. They would have their enemy within just a few short miles--ready and anxious to thoroughly defeat Israel. And the U.S. would have to help in the rescue, bringing in our troops; this is something Israel doesn’t want the U.S. to do and our own Americans would refuse to participate on principle.

The sooner the Arabs--with their enormous wealth and so much open land--take care of their own, the Palestinians, the sooner peace can prevail. And none of this has a thing to do with giving up territories legally and ethically won by the Israelis.

HENRY EHRLICH

Los Angeles