A sad lover of Israel
It was refreshing to read professor Abraham H. Miller’s dissection of President Barack Obama’s disastrous agreement with Iran regarding nuclear enrichment from the standpoint of military effects (“Nuclear deal will destroy Israel,” Dec. 6). That’s rarely published by this newspaper. American Jews should remember professor Miller’s salient observation: “Obama has strengthened Israel’s strongest enemy while weakening Israel.” That congressionally unopposed agreement is deeply saddening for all lovers of Israel.
Quentin L. Kopp | San Francisco
Hatred is misplaced
Per Mohammad G. Hammad’s threat on the life of a specific IDF soldier (“SFSU student allegedly threatens Israeli soldier,” Dec. 13), Mr. Hammad would be better served by concerning himself with the almost daily suicide bombings between Sunnis and Shiites and vice versa, not to mention the 100,000-plus civilian lives lost in Syria due to actions of the current regime.
The female IDF soldier more than likely feels considerable remorse for recently having to take the life of a Palestinian teenager in Hebron. Who knows what the circumstances were for her having to take such action. Perhaps it was in self-defense or even an unfortunate accident. We don’t know and may never know.
I find it disturbing to read of such apparent hatred toward this one single IDF soldier on Mr. Hammad’s part, considering the tens of thousands of lives lost in recent years in Iraq, Afghanistan, Egypt and Libya alone, due to ongoing conflict between the citizens of these countries. Perhaps he might find a constructive approach more productive for himself and others who may think as he does.
Laurence Cosden | Los Gatos
Do they feel our pain?
Ryan Ariel Simon has written a sincere and heartfelt op-ed (“SFSU student’s call for civility starts with ‘I feel your pain,’ ” Dec. 20). Unfortunately, in his quest for moral equivalence, he misses the larger issues, those features that prevent the conflict from ending.
First, while Israeli leadership has indicated recognition of two states for two peoples, Palestinian leadership adamantly refuses to accept a Jewish state of Israel in the region.
Secondly, while Palestinian leadership glorifies those who have killed Israeli children, Israeli citizens do not try to kill Palestinian children. We watch as Israeli doctors treat Palestinian children (as well as Syrian refugees). Deliberate attempts to kill children is unique to one side only.
Finally, the Palestinians insist that all the descendants of the refugees of the War of Independence 65 years ago must be allowed to return to the Jewish state, while all Jews living in the other state (Palestine) will be removed.
Yes, Mr. Simon, there is pain on both sides. Yet until the Palestinian Arabs accept the right of Jews to live in the Middle East, and until they stop their campaign of praise for those who kill Jews and stop teaching their children to hate, there cannot be a solution to the conflict.
Lawrence W. White | San Francisco