The Israeli-Egyptian Rift

In the article "In Israel and Egypt, a Chilly Peace," Aug. 7, much of the burden for the cool relations is placed, unfairly, on Israel. Shouldn't the Egyptian government shoulder the burden of responsibility for either discouraging or making it difficult for Egyptian citizens to participate in tourism, trade relations, cultural relations, and other elements that characterize normal relations between nations? Until the 1990 terrorist attack on an Israeli tourist bus, close to 100,000 Israelis were visiting Egypt, compared to 3,000 Egyptians traveling to Israel. Non-oil trade between the two nations is equally dismal, totaling just $7 million in 1990. And what about attitudes? The author notes the discontent of Egyptian young people over the peace with Israel. How can attitudes change when even the establishment press has been guilty of using classical anti-Semitic terminology? Peace has persevered; but for Israel, which gave up the Sinai, air bases, oil fields, and settlements, the hoped-for "normalization" has been anything but. Cheryl Cutler, Boston Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith

Skeletal Democrats The article "Arkansas' Clinton Tests New Hampshire Waters," Aug. 7, quotes the New Hampshire Democratic state party chairman, Chris Spirou, as saying: "Before September is out, you'll have three or four, maybe five, bonified contenders." I call attention to the word "bonified." Somebody (the chairman, the writer, or the editor) must mean "ossified." Or do they? Irene Rose Gray, Lincoln, Neb. Editor's note: No bones about it, we meant "bona fide."

Digging up Germany's past Regarding the article "German Reburial Prompts Debate Over Military Past," Aug. 14: Perceptions and misperceptions about the Prussian state abound. Civil and military administration were blended, social life was militarized, and a Prussian Puritanism emerged, in concert with a passive, docile, and unquestioning orthodox Lutheranism. However, it was the rulers of France, Austria, and Sweden that most influenced institutional Prussian absolutism. The Prussian kings and elites - economic interests, high gov ernment officials, the bureaucracy, and the military - were indistinguishable from their European counterparts. Indeed, none recognized the limits of power and ambition. Elliott A. Cohen, New York Editor's note: Evgeny F. Saburov, author of yesterday's opinion-page column "Boris Yeltsin's Economic Strategy," was also yesterday named Soviet minister of economic planning and forecasting. Mr. Saburov had been a deputy to Ivan Silayev, prime minister of the Russian Republic, who is now acting prime minister of the Soviet Union - heading a new committee to reshape the federal government.