Loan guarantee to Israel

Although full details of President George Bush's decision to ask Congress to grant $10 billion in loan guarantees to Israel to help settle immigrants from the former USSR have not been revealed to United States taxpayers, peace there would be better served if at least $2 billion were given toward a West Bank-Gaza Strip development project created by a team of Israeli and Palestinian planners together. If the area could be opened to all people regardless of their labels, both the process and the results c ould make peace much more likely and thereby attract private investment that would not require a large guarantee from US taxpayers. Theodore Herman, Cornwall, Pa.

Letters are welcome. Only a selection can be published, subject to condensation, and none acknowledged. Please address them to "Readers Write," One Norway St., Boston, MA 02115.