Acknowledgment needed

Editor: I commend the Jewish Western Bulletin for what is generally a fair-minded, balanced presentation of various views on the issue of the Palestinian "right of return." (Bulletin cover story, Jan. 25) The only flaw is the lack of any Palestinian voices. It's understandable that a Jewish newspaper would devote itself mainly to the opinions of Jews; in this case, some Palestinian views might also have been called for.

I found it disheartening to read the view of Judy Mandleman that most Palestinian refugees "left by choice and at the urging of Arab states." This ignores the mass expulsion of Palestinians by Zionist/Israeli forces, which has been documented by such Israeli "new historians" as Tom Segev, Simha Flapan and Benny Morris. It seems to me that until Israel's responsibility - to whatever degree - for the flight of the Palestinians is acknowledged, there can be no resolution of this painful question.

Carl Rosenberg
Vancouver