President Donald Trump is trying to bludgeon the Palestinians into submission by closing their mission in Washington and cutting off financial aid (“Officials order closure of Palestinian office,” Star-Advertiser, Sept. 11). This will only magnify their hostility and make it more difficult to find a formula for peace with Israel.

Some Israelis will cheer Trump’s measures — including his threats against the International Criminal Court — but they are short-sighted. True peace between Israelis and Palestinians is even more distant today, thanks to the clueless demagogue in the White House.

Carl H. Zimmerman

Salt Lake