Norman Spector, in his article: { "PM's Legacy may include policy change on Arab-Israeli conflict" March 21}, is sarcatically critical of Mr. Chretien's statement about peace for Israelis and Palestinians. He accepts the first principle in Security Council resolution #242 which emphasises the "the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war", and pleads for the application of the call in that resolution for "the need to work for a just and lasting peace in which every state in the area can live in security." Mr. Spector clearly is dismissive of the fact that Israel remains, for over 35 years, in defiance of this Security Council resolution and continues to maintain its illegal occupation of Palestinian and Syrian territory, in defiance of international law. Israel refuses to comply with this resolution and withdraw from illegally occupied territory. Such withdrawal should be unconditional. It is relevant to point out, in the current Iraqi context, that no one entertained in 1990 the question of negotating with Saddam Hussein the subject of withdrawal from illegally occupied Kuwait.

As to the question of the right to live in security for all states in the area, Mr. Spector should be reminded that all Arab states have offered repeatedly, in Summit resolutions in Fez in 1982 and Beirut in 2002, full security and recognition for Israel, but received from Israel nothing but defiance and rejection.