Democrats And Israel (I)
It is the height of hubris and condescension that members of the Obama administration and the two contenders for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination feel free to censure Israel, the only democratic government in the region, when it endeavors to ensure the safety and security of its citizens (“Democrats Try to Save Israel from Itself,” editorial, April 22).
As to the brouhaha concerning Israel’s retention of the Golan, there are irrefutable archeological remains that prove a past Jewish historical presence. But the most persuasive argument for Israel to maintain its rule over the Golan Heights is the incontrovertible fact that before the 1967 Six-Day War the farmers and citizens of northern Israel were exposed to constant gunfire raining down from Syrian forces on the Heights, making their lives intolerable.
Fay Dicker
Lakewood, NJ
Democrats And Israel (II)
Contrary to the title of Rabbi Mark Golub’s April 22 op-ed piece, Hillary and Bernie don’t disappoint on Israel but, rather, remain true to form.
Bernie Sanders’s views on Israel conform to his leftist positions on all subjects. The fact that he accused Israel of using “disproportionate” force in the 2014 Gaza war is not surprising since he is ignorant on the subject of the Israeli/Arab conflict.
And what about Hillary? She is ready to divide Jerusalem and continues to support the “two-state solution” even though Israel has no peace partner with whom to solve anything, so why would anyone expect her to respond “no” to the question of whether Israel uses “disproportionate force”?
Rabbi Golub’s conclusion is painfully correct: “The Democratic Party has moved so far to the left that it has become virtually impossible for Democratic candidates to openly defend Israel…”
Expect nothing from them with regard to supporting Israel and you won’t be disappointed.
Helen Freedman
Americans for a Safe Israel
New York, NY
Palestinians And Peace
There are two reasons why the Palestinians do not want a long-term peace agreement with the state of Israel:
- Their corrupt leaders love the billions of dollars pouring in from outside sources that line their pockets.
- The Palestinians (along with other Arabs/Muslims) have been brainwashed since birth that the land on which Israel sits is all Arab, “from the river to the sea,” as a well-educated Muslim told me.
On that basis, is it possible to achieve peace in the near term?
George Epstein
Los Angeles, CA
Presidential Candidates And Pollard
Re “It’s Time to End the Pollard Inquisition” (editorial, April 29):
Here is a simple litmus test, in the form of three questions, to see which of the presidential candidates is really and truly a friend of Israel.
Regarding Jonathan Pollard, ask each candidate:
If elected president, do you promise to take the shackles off Jonathan Pollard’s leg which, ever since he was “set free” in November 2015, have prevented him from living a normal life?
Will you without equivocation free this man and let him, finally, go to Israel to live, which has been his dream for decades?
Or will you be like Obama, Bush, and Clinton and talk a good game about being Israel’s friend but back down and waffle when it comes to really proving it, thus keeping this man, a hero to many Jews, fettered and bound?
Pinchas Baram
Brookline, MA
Fitting Placement
Marsha Skurnik Schorr’s tribute to her son, Michael, a”h, appeared next to my tribute to my cousin Leon Charney in the April 8 In Memoriam section.
It’s hard to comprehend the hashgacha pratis of that placement. You see, we are very close friends who have never met one another face to face. She was a La Leche coach nearly 40 years ago and I was given her number to call for advice. We used to speak from time to time and then we lost touch.