MB Civic

To the Editor:

“As Israel Goes for Withdrawal, Its Enemies Go Berserk,” by David Brooks (column, July 16), was a clear analysis of this Middle East crisis, which is different.

The United States war against terrorism has been a challenge because we are not fighting a sovereign nation. Israel faces a terrorist enemy that managed to gain power through democratic elections but has no intention of governing.

Israel gives land back, and Hamas and Hezbollah escalate the violence.

But Israel is “overreacting.” Is there a choice to react otherwise?

Pre-emption saves lives, and when your enemy doesn’t accept your right to exist, how can you negotiate?

Steven A. Ludsin
East Hampton, N.Y., July 16, 2006

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To the Editor:

David Brooks says this Middle East crisis is different from past ones, and almost nostalgically notes that the Palestinians, “thanks to Yasir Arafat’s strenuous efforts, owned their own cause.”

What is finally becoming clear is that we might be closer to peace today if an Israeli extremist had not killed Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995 and if Ariel Sharon, when he was prime minister, had not refused to sit down with Mr. Arafat.

Mr. Rabin recognized that only this Palestinian icon, whatever his shortcomings, had the stature to sign a deal with Israel and the passion to found a Palestinian state before he died.

Mr. Arafat almost never made a decision without conferring with Mahmoud Abbas, whom ironically the United States and Israel today regard as an unwavering if politically feeble moderate.

By demonizing the icon, Israel tragically played into the hands of the extremists, and today can only regret that it is facing Iran, Syria and their proxies across the Middle East rather than Yasir Arafat across the peace table.

Dan Kurzman
North Bergen, N.J., July 16, 2006
The writer is a biographer of Yitzhak Rabin.

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To the Editor:

I cannot sleep at night because the noise from Israel’s shelling and bombing keeps me awake.

The “Hezbollah stronghold” that the media keep talking about happens to be a residential suburb where a friend of mine used to live.

I say “used to” because he had to evacuate his house, and his neighborhood is being bombed to rubble.

More than 100 Lebanese civilians have been killed in the last few days; many bridges have been destroyed; most of Beirut has no electricity at this writing; the airport has been bombed on two occasions; and the ports in Beirut, Jbeil and Tripoli were bombed on Saturday.

When David Brooks implies that Israel is not overreacting, he insults all of us who are stuck in our homes waiting for the bombing to stop and hoping that our neighborhood will not be among the next to be hit by Israeli strikes.

Sean Lee
Beirut, Lebanon, July 16, 2006

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To the Editor:

Alas, David Brooks does not mention the most important reason this particular crisis in the Middle East is very dangerous: the United States is hamstrung with a war it cannot win in Iraq. As a result, all the destructive players in the region are emboldened by the United States’ distraction and show of ineptitude.

Add this to the list of failures of the Bush “doctrine.”

Curtiss Calleo
Brooklyn, July 16, 2006

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To the Editor:

Re “Playing Hamas’s Game” (editorial, July 15):

Your words do not fit the situation. Israel is, and has been, fighting for its life.

You mention that Israel should “do far more to minimize the damage to civilian bystanders.”

Did Osama bin Laden, in his war against the United States, try to minimize the 9/11 civilian casualties? Do Hezbollah and Hamas try to minimize civilian casualties?

Israel is determined to crush Hezbollah, and unfortunately, civilians will be victims.

Israel must do what it did to Yasir Arafat in 1982: Chase Hezbollah out of Lebanon, then turn around and chase Hamas out of Gaza and the West Bank. Then, and only then, will peace overtures be more palatable for both sides.

Jack E. Cohen
Hewlett, N.Y., July 15, 2006

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To the Editor:

Israel’s enemies in the Middle East know how easy it is get the Israelis to play the enemies’ violent games.

When seriously provoked, Israel always responds with a vengeance. The Israelis can never get beyond their “eye for an eye” mind-set.

Always striking back guarantees the continuance of the cycle of violence. Israel needs to get smart, abandon its revenge-mindedness and come up with some bold peacemaking initiatives that will put its enemies to shame.

Now is the time to stop playing “Hamas’s game.”

Paul L. Whiteley Sr.
Louisville, Ky., July 15, 2006