Religion’s Role in Battling Terrorism

Casey Kasem insists on razor-sharp distinctions in his letter of Aug. 9. He calls it a lie that Egypt began hostilities to open the 1967 war, when, in fact, Israel struck first, even if pre-emptively.

Nonsense, Casey! Egypt did more than saber-rattling; she struck the first blow--and also the second. She opened the hostilities by closing the Straits of Tiran to Israel. International law dictates that closing an international waterway to any nation is a declaration of war. Furthermore, in doing so, Egypt violated the terms of her own pact as made with Israel following the 1956 Sinai war, namely, never to block the waterway.

The second strike, tantamount to a declaration of war by Egypt, was when (then-President Gamal Abdel) Nasser demanded of the Secretary General of the United Nations at the time, U Thant, to withdraw the U.N. peacekeeping force stationed between Israel and the Sinai Peninsula. Nasser explained that he was going to engage Israel militarily at any hour. U Thant complied and the rest is history.

As a matter of fact, there was still another provocation of even greater proportion. Nasser influenced Iraq, Syria and Jordan to surround Israel in a “ring of steel” poised to pounce on the tiny nation. Could there be any greater threat to Israel than that?

Mr. Kasem, when the flames of the fire begin to lick all around you, do you sit there to absorb it all? One would think you would respond to it. That’s just the point. Israel responded--to the acts of war initiated by Egypt.

JULIAN WHITE

President

Americans for a Safe Israel

Pacific Southwest Region