Arabs Owning Land in Israel
Donald Bustany of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee was “stunned†by the “dishonesty†of President Bush’s speech to the United Nations and The Times’ editorial calling for the repeal of the infamous Zionism-is-racism resolution (letter, Oct. 7). Please. We are stunned at Bustany’s dishonesty in claiming as fact that one may not sell or lease land to Arabs.
The truth is that Israeli Arabs are permitted to own land in Israel. There are, however, limitations on the purchase of land in the territories; this is obviously because ownership of the entire area remains in dispute and will be a subject raised at any upcoming peace conference.
It is interesting that while Bustany accuses Israel of racism in its real property ownership laws, he conveniently fails to mention that under Jordanian law, the sale of land to Jews is punishable by death. Is the pot calling the kettle black?
TZIVIA SCHWARTZ
Western States Associate Counsel
Anti-Defamation League, Los Angeles
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