J.Post February 3: Peres's Record

Sir, – [Pres. Shimon Peres in a keynote address to the annual Herzliya Conference, urges Israel to reach an accord with the Palestinians and thereby benefit from the 'Arab Spring'.] Shimon Peres seems to be quite alone in his optimistic appraisal of the turmoil confronting the Middle East. The empowerment of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and Tunisia alongside the increased missile threats to us from Hezbollah in the north and Hamas in the south only serve to provide Israel with heightened security concerns.

Peres argues that an accord with the PA will strengthen it at the expense of Hamas. He seems to be totally oblivious of the reconciliation between them, with Hamas still insisting on the non-recognition of Israel.

Most neutral observers assert that if free elections were held in the PA today, Hamas would be the victor.

It is worth remembering that it was Peres who pushed for the ill-fated Oslo Accords and the peace partner Yasser Arafat.

ZEV CHAMUDOT
Petah Tikva