CAN HE MAKE PEACE?

"When it comes to dealing with Israel's neighbors, better a hawk (Netanyahu) in sheep's clothing than a sheep (Peres) in hawk's clothing." JOSEPH MINKOWITZ Toronto

"Can He Make Peace?" appears to be a cynical question with regard to the election of Benjamin Netanyahu [WORLD, June 10]. It is better to revisit the elections of Israeli Prime Ministers like Menachem Begin and Yitzhak Shamir and U.S. Presidents like Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. Against heavy odds, they all surprised the world by opening up new avenues to peace despite their political-campaign rhetoric. Even Yasser Arafat proved that one can work toward peace under proper circumstances and receive a Nobel Peace Prize. Instead of being sarcastic about it, let us congratulate the people of Israel who elected Netanyahu, a young, energetic, intelligent sound-bite master, politically seasoned (in the American way). VALIYAVEETIL T. SAMUEL Grambling, Louisiana

It is most unfortunate that so many leaders who have dedicated everything to peace in the Middle East have fallen, either to ballots or to bullets. Shimon Peres was not a consummate politician, but then a consummate politician would not have risked everything for his cause. What Peres has proved himself to be is a decent human being--and a true visionary. What greater honor could be bestowed upon him than for the U.N. to name him as its next Secretary-General? No diplomat on the world stage has been so dedicated to the cause of peace and so tireless in pursuing the U.N.'s primary goal: the end of conflicts worldwide. BOB ADAMS Dania, Florida

Your cover story, "the right way to Peace?," blithely suppresses the security concerns that motivated many Israelis to vote for Netanyahu when it says, "At issue was not peace vs. security." Peres, unlike Yitzhak Rabin or "Bibi" Netanyahu, lacked the military credentials that are essential for a leader in a country where every citizen serves in the army and may be called upon at any moment to defend the state. To say the only issue was one of "hope vs. fear," without addressing the candidates' military backgrounds, was to miss a crucial dimension of the election. At its heart, the question was about whom Israelis trusted more as a leader in a place where war is not an abstract concept but an everyday reality. Peres, lacking the proper military bona fides, said, "Follow me"; the Israeli electorate said no. JEFFREY KAHANA Cambridge, Massachusetts

Israelis have ditched Peres gold for Bibi tinsel. Netanyahu's success in the scheme of things will be no less than miraculous, his failure a sure victory for political sanity. MAHMOOD FARIDOON Farsta, Sweden

Your correspondents in Israel paint a picture of the Israeli right as warmongers, anxiously awaiting battle with the Arab residents of Israel. I voted for Netanyahu. As the mother of five sons, I have no desire to pursue war with anyone. Netanyahu was elected because Shimon Peres too easily forgot Arafat's history as a murderer. We are hoping Netanyahu will remember whom he is dealing with and will present a more rigid guideline of negotiation. Arafat and his followers should recognize that Israel cannot be divided into any more pieces. JUDY BRETON Alon Shvut, Israel

The peace process must take "a right turn." If Israel gives up the Golan Heights, Syria, which has a record of breaking treaties, will be in an excellent strategic position to invade. If Israel allows a Palestinian state to form under the leadership of a supposedly reformed terrorist, the Israelis will have a difficult border to defend, and suicide bombers, unmoved by our peace actions, will continue to pour through it. Moreover, if Israel gives up its capital of Jerusalem, it will give up the Jewish soul. And if Israel is destroyed in its own homeland, the Jewish people will be lost, worldwide. VICTORIA FEINERMAN Petach Tikva, Israel Via E-mail

What are the neighboring governments and Arafat afraid of? That now, for once, they will have to abide by their side of the agreement? It takes two sides to fulfill a negotiated agreement; it's not a case of Israel unilaterally making concession after concession without receiving anything in return. This is what's upsetting Israel's negotiating partners. HARVEY KANIEL Jerusalem

It would appear that Israel has selected a Newt Gingrich of its own. BILL BLATZ Old Brookville, New York

THE TESTS OF DEMOCRACY

The good thing about a democracy [WORLD, June 10] is that it lets people make a choice; the bad thing is that their choice may very well be the worst possible one. Many of the people who voted for Netanyahu hope that maybe this hard-line perennial Zionist can make peace with the Arabs without any land concessions. Netanyahu is more of a seasoned politician than a war hero. He promised the people everything they wanted to hear, and he fed the public's hunger for assurance of its territorial security. But history will prove that the Jewish people, as well as the Arabs, were conned out of peace by a self-serving politician with a hidden agenda. ABDO ANTUN Beirut

Israelis did not, as you claim, vote on "something deeply psychological: hope vs. fear"; Israelis chose between reality and dreams. This country is the only recognized democracy in the Middle East. In Israel the people are accountable. Leaders change; the system survives. Which of Israel's peace partners can claim the same? Egypt? Syria? Jordan? The Palestinians? Israelis dream of lasting peace. Unfortunately this quest and dream must be tempered by reality. CRAIG M. COEL Jerusalem

GATE OVERLOAD

I am a public school teacher with two kids in college, ailing parents, giant hassles with HMOs, a vehicle that has more than 175,000 miles on it, and dogs with fleas. Do you really think I give a hoot about what possible ethical violations [NATION, June 10] (not even criminal acts) Bill and Hillary Clinton may have committed almost 20 years ago? I'm not sure there's a person living, this side of Mother Teresa, who didn't do at least one dumb thing 20 years ago. CHRISTINE GRASDORF Fayette, Missouri

If nothing else of any benefit ever comes of Whitewater, at least maybe, at long merciful last, you in the media will finally stop hanging -gate on the end of everything from jaywalking to capital murder (Billygate, contra-gate, Irangate, travelgate, skategate, ad nauseam). First, though, we have to find a cute replacement that you can cement yourselves to for the next half-century or so. Let's see: "Whitebilly" (nah)..."travelwater" (ugh). I despair. ERIC POOLE Londonderry, New Hampshire Via E-mail

NATURE AND MAN DRIFT APART

We in Eastern Montana and the Western Dakotas sympathize with those enduring the drought in Texas [NATION, June 10]. We suffered through 12 years of drought, from 1980 to 1991. Old-timers said it was worse than the '30s. Our well-built houses could not keep out the dust; winters brought us dirt drifts instead of snowdrifts. In 1988 we never pulled a combine into the field. Our county lost 20% of its population and 75% of the cattle herds. Isn't it interesting that it takes the Freemen to get publicity for this part of the country? CAROL R. BRENDEN Scobey, Montana

Your drought story reminded me of the Dust Bowl days when as a farm boy I rented shares on my uncle's land and planted soybeans three times to get something to feed eight dairy cows. As the sun was darkened by clouds of dust from the west, many of us gradually began to realize that nature and man had drifted apart. M. EARL BOYER Freeport, Illinois

Your story conveniently omits one critical factor: humans. For decades, it's been painfully apparent that water resources are limited. Nonetheless developers blindly rush to promote growth for growth's sake, with no recognition of human-caused depletion of precious resources. Instead of limiting growth, rationing water, conserving energy and living sustainably, modern society with its insatiable appetite gobbles and wastes resources. Humans have profound effects on the environment, yet too often such negative impacts are simplistically regarded as "acts of God" or "natural causes." JOHN D. LYLE Fairbanks, Alaska

God has a sense of humor, but it's very dry. The Great Drought centers on the congressional districts of two members of the House Republican leadership who are among the most vociferous in denying the possibility of catastrophic man-made climate change--Representatives Dick Armey and Tom DeLay, both of Texas. JOHN F. HELLEGERS Jenkintown, Pennsylvania

UNCLE HARRISON'S "LOG CABIN"

Once again the myth of William Henry Harrison as "the embodiment of homey rural virtues, the candidate of the log cabin" has surfaced, this time in Jeff Greenfield's piece "I'm Just That Simple" [ESSAY, June 10]. Greenfield does not seem to know that Harrison, my great-great-great-great-granduncle, was a patrician, born into the landed aristocracy of the James River. His father Benjamin was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and the master of Berkeley Plantation. The plantation house in which Harrison was born stands today, open to the public. It bears little resemblance to a log cabin. It is surprising that Harrison was able to get away with this rather cynical maneuver, even more that the myth continues to be solemnly promulgated. It probably has something to do with the fact that he lived for only a month after his Inauguration. KIT BROWN Bel Air, Maryland