Aug. 16, 2001

MARINA DEL REY, CA--If the Palestinians and Israelis ever return to negotiations, a fundamental question should be asked: Do the Palestinians led by Yasser Arafat have a right to an independent state? Do they, as our Declaration of Independence stated, have the right to assume among the powers of the earth a separate and equal station, asked Dr. Onkar Ghate, senior fellow of the Ayn Rand Institute.

Many Americans now believe that the long-suffering Palestinians should have their own state. But when asked why, they can appeal only to a frustrated, weary desire to be done with fifty years of war in Israel. Understandably, they are unable or unwilling to give a reasoned justification for an independent Palestinian state.

Our Declaration of Independence, said Dr. Ghate, makes clear the principles by which this issue should be decided. The only legitimate reason to found a new state is to escape tyranny and secure freedom by recognizing individual rights. On this issue Ayn Rand wrote, 'the right of the self-determination of nations applies only to free societies or to societies seeking to establish freedom; it does not apply to dictatorships.' What Arafat desires is to rule rightless serfs in a racist, collectivist state run by a dictator--himself. No one has the right to create or impose such a state.