Middle East Peace Talks

Regarding the Middle East peace summit: We must change the classic definition of the word “compromise,” as it no longer means an equitable agreement between two parties in which both give up something in exchange for something. This month the word means one party making concession after concession in exchange for nothing.

President Clinton and Yasser Arafat call for painful compromises. Israel offers to give up heartland it conquered after being attacked in 1967 by Jordan. The Palestinians offer to--maybe--give up starting a war in September. Perhaps the Israelis should simply emulate their negotiating partners and offer not land but shaky promises to refrain from violence. This is not a compromise according to the classic definition, but at least it is equitable.

The set of compromises on the table that the Palestinians want Israel to make at Camp David bears a curious resemblance to the great Munich compromise of 1938, with one difference: Hitler feigned peaceful intentions, but Arafat doesn’t even bother.

JOEL LEVIN

Toluca Lake

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The July 12 front-page picture of Clinton, Arafat and Barak tells a thousand words about people getting together as people to work out a problem. As a president, Bill Clinton is going to be a tough act to follow.

DAVE WEINER

Malibu