Manhattan v. Gaza: Which is more crowded?
Without addressing the main ideas of Elior Levy’s op-ed about Hamas, I must correct his hyperbole (“Which way will Hamas go when electing a new leader?” Oct. 28). He describes the Gaza Strip as “the most crowded piece of land … in the world.” This is simply false. Manhattan is five times as crowded (and that’s just the residents, not the many thousands who pour in daily for work). New York City as a whole is about twice as crowded. San Francisco is more crowded.
Yes, the Gaza Strip is impoverished, but if its leadership spent the money it gets from donors around the world on taking care of its people instead of on building arms and attack tunnels, the people would not be nearly so poor.
Dan Fendel | Piedmont
Consul general was right to skip out on discussion
I just read the report of the event sponsored by J Street, featuring a discussion between Jeremy Ben-Ami and Maen Rashid Areikat (“J Street head joins Palestinian diplomat on speaking tour,” Oct. 28). I found it quite interesting and was able to learn that the main obstacles to resolution of the conflict in Israel are the U.S. government and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
I was pleased to learn, since there was no mention of this, that the thousands of rockets fired from Gaza into Israel, and the refusal of President Mahmoud Abbas to respond to a permanent invitation by Prime Minister Netanyahu for a meeting at any time and at any place with a complete, open agenda, aren’t obstacles to peace.
Mr. Areikat is an official representative of a government, while Mr. Ben-Ami is head of an organization and a self-appointed decider of what is best for Israel. Both men are entitled to their views, but to insult the consul general of Israel by inviting him not to dialogue, but to be an audience member to listen to anti-Israel views, is the height of chutzpah.
Consul General Andy David was completely correct in refusing to attend. If he had been the one to debate Mr. Areikat, it might have served to be a useful exchange of views. But listening to a love fest between two individuals in much agreement on issues is detrimental to the welfare of Israel and not a good use of his time.
Jon Levinson | San Carlos
Main obstacles to peace based on false premises
In the judgment of J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami and PLO diplomat Maen Rashid Areikat, the culprit of the Israeli-Palestinian tensions and failed peace talks is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and the “occupied” territories and settlements are the main obstacles on the road to a two-state solution. Let’s look at each of these premises.
Netanyahu has been the prime minister for 10 years of modern Israel’s 68 years. Were the Israeli-Palestinian tensions resolved or the peace talks successful during the non-Netanyahu 58 years? The answer is a resounding “nyet.” The problem is the Palestinian maximalist position and their expectations that a quelled Israel will be delivered to them on a silver platter by the United States.
As for the “occupied” territories and settlements, Mr. Areikat’s propaganda position may be understandable, but Ben-Ami’s agreement with him is puzzling. He should know better. According to a commonly accepted definition, “occupied territory is the one under the authority and effective control of a belligerent armed force” and “the belligerent is the party waging the war.” Jordan waged the war against Israel in June 1967. Israel conquered “the territories” in a defensive war and could vacate them only upon conclusion that there are no more threats coming from them.
Although J Street is only 9 years old, it should have more mature judgment on matters it pretends to know.
Vladimir Kaplan | San Mateo
‘The anti-Zionism of fools’
Thanks for another lively issue of a publication I always love to read and to agree or disagree with, depending on the particular article or editorial.
With regard to the ongoing (interminable?) controversy on Israel/Palestine within the Jewish community, I have three very short comments.
1. As a U.S. citizen, I feel it my duty to speak out whenever our government, claiming to represent me, does something I disagree with.
2. Similarly, as a Jew, I feel it my duty to speak out whenever the government of Israel, claiming in part to represent me, does something I disagree with.
3. The old saw says that anti-Semitism is the anti-Zionism of fools. I agree. And to the extent that the Israeli government and its supporters claim that any criticism of Israel is anti-Semitic on its face, they give ammunition to the fools.
Eliot Kenin | Martinez
Real history of ‘coexistence’ is a bloody tale
Danny Yanow’s letter (“Here’s a history lesson,” Oct. 28) is a revisionist history tale to pacify those who wish to promote Israel-Palestinian and/or Jewish-Islam future coexistence, but it is too small a fig leaf to cover the cruel and bloodied history between the Jews and Muslims.
The real history of Islamic conquest is cruel and bloody, led by Islam’s conquest call, “by the Quran or the sword.” It was initiated by Muhammad, slaughtering of the Jewish tribes in Medina and Khaybar in 625-629 A.D. and on to the massacres in Granada, Spain, and Fez, Morocco. The oppressive periods of Jewish lives were more typical than the few golden periods enjoyed under both Muslim and Christian rules throughout history. At best, Jews were tolerated by the Muslim communities, as long as they accepted their place as dhimmis (non-Muslims) and paid the jizya tax.
Further, the Muslims demolished all remnants of the Jewish Temple and built their golden dome and Al-Aksa mosque to prove their dominance. Not to mention the recently passed UNESCO resolution that renounced any Jewish connection to the Temple Mount.
Sam Liron | Foster City
Speak freely around children
I was saddened to read that Amy Bird does not feel free to express her views in her own home (“Why we sanitize our political views around the children,” Oct. 28). This self-censoring communicates to children that expressing one’s opinion on certain subjects is unacceptable and shameful. We have brains to think and mouths to speak. The free expression of ideas should not be perceived as disloyalty; it is the right of every human being.
Abby Margolis | Daly City