Art that ‘promotes hatred’
Was MECA’s exhibit of art created to show how innocent Gazan kids suffer? Or is it a display of coached art intended to evoke hatred and demonize Israel (“Sides divided over cancellation of art show by Gaza kids,” Sept. 16)?
Did MOCHA refuse the show to avoid being used by MECA’s political agenda? MECA says the pulled exhibit demonstrates Jewish/Israeli censorship, a curious accusation since censorship — prohibiting whatever they deem unfavorable — is MECA’s frequent tactic.
For example, viewers of the exhibit (now with a new venue) see paintings of Gazan children’s response to Israel’s incursion, but they’d have no clue that the incursion was the result of Hamas rocket bombardments that terrorize, maim and kill Israeli children. The exhibit censors facts: that Hamas places rocket launchers near where children live and play, thereby putting Gazan children in harm’s way.
MECA also “censored” the Gazan children’s artwork. Do any paintings show toddlers wearing suicide belts? Or Gazan kids at summer camp taught to shoot weapons? Or youths being recruited to become suicide martyrs? MECA’s censorship denied exhibit entry to StandWithUs/S.F. Voice for Peace.
Both Israeli and Arab children draw heart-wrenching pictures that reflect the effects of the Arab-Israeli conflict, but they must learn to live together. MECA’s one-sided portrayal promotes hatred, not mutual understanding.
June Brott | Oakland
‘Outlandish’ attack on Obama
My first reaction to the David Horowitz Freedom Center advertisement in j. Sept. 30 was one of outrage. On second thought, this diatribe may serve a very useful purpose. It provides fair-minded supporters of the State of Israel with a window into the mindset and mentality behind these outlandish attacks on President Barack Obama and will prompt us to act and vote accordingly.
Werner Gottlieb | Walnut Creek
Top priority for Jewish agencies
Rabbi Alissa Wise provides “pastoral care” to Jewish Voice for Peace (“JVP rabbi says fight is for equality, not Israel’s demise,” Sept. 30)? JVP’s mission is to end, unconditionally, Israel’s presence on the West Bank; it supports BDS activities; and works closely with ANSWER-type organizations dedicated to Israel’s destruction.
On the other hand, there is the New Israel Fund, whose CEO Daniel Sokach proclaimed recently that “advocacy on behalf of the issue of Israeli Arabs” is something that “ought to be front and center on the radar of the American Jewish community” (“Local leader Brian Lurie named next president of New Israel Fund,” Sept. 9).
Between JVP and NIF lies an entire gamut of groups, including J Street, who have made criticism of Israel as their raison d’être. Forget about an existential threat from Iran, rockets from Gaza and massive armament of Hezbollah. Don’t pay attention to vicious anti-Semitism from old and new regimes in the Arab world. Just concentrate on what Israel should have done to cajole Arabs, in general, and Palestinians, in particular.
Of course, Israel may be criticized for all sorts of perceived or real misdeeds, but providing a material and emotional support to the Jewish state should be the first priority of any Jewish organization. America will be on Israel’s side as long as American Jews stand with Israel.
Vladimir Kaplan | San Mateo
Rabbi is ‘withdrawn’ from the community
I was baffled to read Mr. Dan Pine’s article (“JVP rabbi says fight is for equality, not Israel’s demise,” Sept. 30). It reminds me of one of the Passover haggadah’s four sons’ paragraphs (“Rasha ma hu omer”) and our sages’ eloquent answer “It is clear he does not include himself, thus he has withdrawn himself from the community.”
With all due respect to Ms. Wise, she is entitled for her opinions and feelings, but, please do not masquerade that as a rabbinic lesson by a Jewish teacher — just as a ham is not “kind of kosher” because the pig was raised by a Jewish farmer.
With the revved up campaign this year to encourage civility in the tenuous discourse of pro- and anti-Israel discussions, there are clearly some drawn red lines that the Jewish community must insist on: no vilification of Israel people; no anti-Israel hate-speech; and no de-legitimization of Israel as a Jewish state.
Sam Liron | Foster City
Palestinians must ‘pay a price’
President Mahmoud Abbas has refused to have direct negotiations without preconditions. Alan Dershowitz, Harvard law professor, had this advice, which is clear and succinct. He wrote in the New Republic: “Netanyahu wants to negotiate a peace now, whereas Abbas wants to win recognition from the United Nations before any negotiations begin.”
Dershowitz wrote that the borders of a Palestinian state will not be the 1967 borders, because of Israel’s security needs, ending his piece with: “The Palestinians must pay a price for the thousands of lives their rejectionism and violence have caused. The price must not be so heavy as to preclude peace, but it must be heavy enough to deter war.”
Norman Licht | San Carlos
Most terror-free year
As a pro-Israel San Franciscan, I am writing in support of the Price-Welch letter now circulating Congress, and in support of President Obama.
Israel’s Shin Bet security agency called 2010 the most terror-free year on record thanks to the Palestinian Authority’s American-funded efforts. Therefore I cannot support calls to cut funding for the Palestinian Authority for pursuing statehood at the U.N.
For decades Israel, and the world, have called on Palestinians to refrain from violence. Although I know in my heart the only way to achieve a lasting peace is through negotiations that bring about a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians, to punish them for pursuing a legal right is not only counterproductive but hypocritical as well.
In this critical time, cutting U.S. aid and cooperation would also strain the resources and undermine the moderate government of the P.A., shifting the political balance dangerously toward Hamas. Congress must continue funding programs that strengthen institution and state-building efforts in the West Bank, grow the Palestinian economy, meet the basic needs of the Palestinian people and reduce the risk of terror aimed at Israel.
Ryan Ariel Simon | San Francisco
J Street Local, SF Bay Area
Unilateralism threatens Israel’s survival
There will be no peace with Palestinians if a two-state solution comes about without negotiation because of (a) Hamas’ rejection of the Palestinian Authority’s bid to have the U.N. declare a state of Palestine on the 1949 armistice lines; (b) the childish but dangerous anti-Israel antics of Turkey’s prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan; (c) the silence of the world at the slaughter of Egyptians, Syrians, Libyans, Yemenis, Bahrainis and other Arab nationals by their own people for engaging in protest; (d) the disastrous results of President Barack Obama’s policy of appeasement of the Islamic world, and; (e) continued Arab incitement and terrorism against Jews and others.
Each of these events presents a deadly threat to Jewish survival worldwide. Just focus on the morning after, if the Palestinians get their state, and ask yourself why Hamas, Hezbollah and the new Palestine would allow Israel to exist after getting a state without having to negotiate.
Desmond Tuck | San Mateo
Israel needs moral clarity
Israel’s policy of appeasing its enemies and disdaining its own religious heritage has reached its inevitable dead end with the Palestinian effort to declare unilateral statehood through the U.N. Every terror attack that went unrequited, and every slander that went unanswered, have brought Israel to the place where it inspires neither fear nor respect, and the few Muslim states it naively deemed its friends have all turned against it.
Israel can still prevail against its foes, but only if it replaces its moral confusion with moral clarity. It must stop pursuing useless negotiations with its adversaries. It must recognize that this conflict is not between leaders, but between peoples, and it must not let its pursuit of enemy leaders be crippled by exaggerated concern for enemy civilians. It must seek victory, not just temporary reduction in violence.
Above all, Israel must recognize that the world is governed by a Power higher than man, and victory for Jews comes not through size and numbers, but by aligning with and serving that Power. To succeed, Israel must fear God more than it fears its enemies, and trust God more than it trusts its friends.
Martin Wasserman | Sunnyvale