Israel wrong to treat Palestinians with disdain

A recent writer criticized UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon for "blaming Israel for the woes in the region." Mr. Moon shared that blame with the Palestinians. But he understands the desperation of the Palestinian people.

Three massive Israeli air wars on Gaza since 2009 dropped bombs on 1.5 million people crammed into 137 square miles so that every bomb killed someone ... men, women, and children with nothing to defend themselves.

Israeli checkpoints surrounding Gaza and inside the West Bank restrict movement of Palestinians and materials, including people going to work, children going to school, materials to rebuild homes in Gaza, even some food and medicines, and restricting Palestinian fisherman from making a living from the sea.

Israel continues building settlements on Palestinian land in the West Bank. Israel controls Palestinian water, electricity, fuel and other everyday needs. Israel controls the taxes that belong to the Palestinians and withholds or delays these revenues from the Palestinian Authority when it wants to punish them.

Palestinians also face attacks from Israeli settlers who think God has given them all the land in the West Bank and the Palestinians should be removed.

Israel builds walls separating Palestinians from their jobs, their farms, and even from each other.

How would we respond to being occupied for 50 years? Would we be desperate if our livelihood, children, and freedom were threatened every day? We would be cowards if we didn't react.

Mr. Moon says the status quo is untenable. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu apparently thinks differently. And since he and the Israeli lobby have the U.S. government in their pocket, the situation will only produce more bad things for both sides.

John Steinmeyer

Bradenton

This story was originally published February 25, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Israel wrong to treat Palestinians with disdain ."