Live in peace | The Salt Lake Tribune

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Michael R. Kelsey, in his Aug. 9 letter "Why they hate us," wrote that "All we have to do is give Palestine back to the rightful owners, the Palestinian people."

Michele Margetts, in her Aug. 28 letter "First it was Philistia," asks "Why should there not be a modern state of Palestine, with roots just as old (as Israel) predicated upon the ancient, contemporary, self-governed pentapolis of Philistia?"

There is no relationship between the ancient Philistines, who originated from the Aegean region, and present-day Arab Palestinians.

UN Resolution 194, Article 11, states "The refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbors should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date ... ." The intent was that Palestine be partitioned into two independent states living in peace.

The Muslim world has not only refused to recognize Israel, but many have vowed to destroy it.

It takes a huge amount of effort, energy, lives and money to incessantly advocate such hatred.

Imagine how much the Palestinians could have accomplished if, instead, they had invested these resources into creating a peaceful state for their people.

Rose Bauman

Sandy