Elia Zureik's commentary, "Palestinian Education in Disarray" (Commentary, Bulletin, May 2002) is a textbook case of the mentality of a person convicted of the murder of his parents who pleads for leniency on the grounds that he is an orphan.

The statistics the author presents are accurate, but do not tell the whole story because the author does not want the whole story told. For instance, unemployment is so great among the Palestinian population almost entirely because of the Intifadas. Prior to 1987, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were employed within Israel's prosperous economy and enjoying a rising standard of living.

They became unemployed because Israeli employers began, and with reason, to fear for their lives from their Palestinian employees. The jobs Palestinians filled within Israel's economy are still there - filled now by foreign workers. Peace with Israel - or even a detente - would likely reduce the Palestinian jobless rate.

Palestinian students have indeed had their educational lives disrupted. Their institutions have been largely taken over by ideologues who have seemingly more interest in pursuing war against Israel than in presenting realistic proposals for peace. Having declared this war, they have succeeded in killing the spirit of Oslo and in shooting themselves in the foot in the bargain. Peace with Israel, or even a detente, would likely give Palestinian educational institutions the stability they sorely need.

The real pity is that this publication, among others, serves as a forum for such a one-sided view of reality. If such are their spokesmen, the Palestinian people really do need our sympathy.

Ira Robinson
Religion, Concordia University