Israel's Concessions

The Post's conclusion regarding Israel's settlement policies was misleading ["Mr. Olmert's Farewell; The departing Israeli prime minister endorses a withdrawal policy his own government failed to uphold," editorial, Oct. 5].

No prior Israeli government has done more to bring unchecked growth in the West Bank settlements under control. The government has committed itself to not building new settlements; not expropriating land for settlements; and not permitting any outward growth from existing settlements. The government has also annulled all benefits that had previously encouraged Israelis to settle in the West Bank.

And, perhaps, most important, no government in Israel's history has been more forthcoming in easing restrictions on the Palestinians, while making significant nation-building gestures such as releasing prisoners, providing weapons and handing over security control.

The statistics cited by The Post fail to distinguish between natural growth and migration to the settlements. Most new inhabitants fall under the former category, living within Israel's major settlement blocs. There is a wide consensus that these blocs will remain within Israel.

No settlement discussion is complete without acknowledging Israel's proven track record of making painful concessions for the sake of peace. Israel has fully dismantled settlements in the Sinai as per the peace agreement with Egypt and has also taken the initiative to unilaterally disengage from all settlements in Gaza, and from Amona and Chomesh in the West Bank.

The Israeli government is engaged in an exhaustive negotiation process with the Palestinians in trying to reach a comprehensive agreement. As Prime Minister Ehud Olmert explained in a recent interview, Israel has offered land in exchange for these major Israeli population centers.

JONATHAN PELED

Spokesman, Embassy of Israel

Washington