Editor,
In response to UNM student Ahmad Musleh's letter in Thursday's Daily Lobo, Musleh claims columnist Scott Darnell's entire April 12 column is "libelous and defamatory" based on no other reason than his disagreement with the
author's views.
Regarding the need for "factual accuracy," Musleh should have checked his own writing before submission. Evidence of Iran's contributions to global terrorism is staggering. Iran provides ample support to Hezbollah - which has a worldwide network and is not simply a regional organization - Hamas, Islamic Jihad and al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade. There is evidence of Iranian-made IEDs used against coalition forces in Iraq and weapons support to the Taliban in Afghanistan. These are all direct threats to U.S. interests and global security.
Musleh claims Syria does not sponsor terrorism. Perhaps he's been listening to Bashar al-Assad's rhetoric, but not observing his actions. Assad provides safe haven and material support to Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Abu Musa Organization and the Popular Struggle Front. Syria even allowed military equipment to flow into Iraq on the eve of the war and permitted volunteers to pass into Iraq to attack our service members during the war. Additionally, Assad will not allow U.N. inspectors along Syria's border with Lebanon because he would lose Syria's transport route of weapons to Hezbollah.
Most preposterous, Musleh claims that "the minorities of Iran, which include Jews, are more equal with the Iranian majority than minorities in Israel are with Israel's majority" because Muslims and Christians have "different-colored license plates" in Israel. This is flatly wrong - all Israeli citizens, including Arab minorities, have same-colored license plates. Citizens of the Palestinian Authority have different license plates because they are not Israeli citizens and have had their own government since 1995. This is no different than Canadians having Canadian license plates rather than U.S. plates.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Arab and other minority citizens of Israel enjoy the same rights as Israeli Jews. Israeli Arabs have been elected to every Knesset and currently hold 12 of its 120 seats. Two Israeli Arabs have served as full government ministers, and Abdel Rahman Zuabi, a secular Muslim from northern Israel, currently serves on the Israeli Supreme Court. By comparison, entire minority groups - including Jews - are allocated one seat in the Iranian Parliament, where they wield little power. High government posts and positions of influence are reserved for Muslims.
Rachel Fredman
UNM student and president
of UNM Israel Alliance
