Now, for the RightSir, – My thanks to Michael Harris for “The revolution of the left wing” (Comment & Features, June 28), who pinpointed for me an issue that has bothered me these past few years but which I refused to accept.From the beginning Herut, later the Likud, was an active opposition in criticizing the government for any attempt to offer land for peace. Yet it was Menahem Begin who broke the international rule of “to the victor belong the spoils,” giving back the Sinai Peninsula. Even more, he removed Israeli settlers from Yamit as part of the bargain.Arik Sharon turned his back on his electorate and shamefully ejected Israeli citizens who had built magnificent communities in Gush Katif. Many more shameful retreats have been performed by Likud governments in opposition to the party’s long-standing philosophy.Each concession brought more terrorism and great outlays of money to provide greater protection, such as walls, fences and additional security manpower.In the past we voted for the Likud or one of the other rightwing parties since the Left offered no alternative. It would behoove the Likud to now take up the challenge of the new Labor Party and create its own revolution. It would inject integrity and honesty into its party platform so that its voters can be assured their representatives will vote as they promise.I look forward to a Harris column titled, “The revolution of the right wing.”RAPHAEL ROSENBAUMKiryat OnoSo little timeSir, – Every few years the ghost of Richard Wagner reappears to haunt the collective conscience of Israelis who doggedly insist on not giving his music a public platform (“Mah Tovu and ‘Tannhauser’ – separating the masterpiece from its creator,” Comment & Features, June 26; “Who’s afraid of Richard Wagner,” Comment & Features, June 11). His various apologists pontificate as to what we are missing culturally.It isn’t that we don’t know his music is acknowledged to be among the crowns of the Romantic Period. We are not cultural philistines. Moreover, there are those among us who choose not to read the poetry of T.S.Eliot. This doesn’t mean we are literary ignoramuses.Some of us may even have advanced degrees in music and literature. Nevertheless, in our limited life-spans there is just so much time to listen to all the great musical masterpieces and to read all the great works of literature.Valuing our individual freedom bestows upon us the right to choose – for lack of time – to which works of art we wish to devote our aesthetic sensibilities.And, yes, an artist’s anti-Semitic pedigree may prejudice an audience’s appreciation of his work.For this, our Jewish audience in our free sovereign State of Israel need never apologize.AVRAHAM FEDER Jerusalem
One more reason
Sir, – I agree that for decades, since the days of Ben-Gurion, there has been an urgent need for electoral reform (“Carmel’s lesson,” Editorial, June 22). Our dysfunctional, flawed and undemocratic political system has appointed ministers who on repeated occasions have absolved themselves from their responsibilities by whitewashing their blunders and passing responsibility to unfortunate scapegoats.We urgently require constituent representation and a well-thought-out constitution, as well as continuity and stability in government with ministers who do not change like the weather.It is time our electoral system was changed so that our quality of life and standard of living are not manipulated and governed by survival-mentality politicians who have voice and power disproportionate to their numbers.JACK DAVIS JerusalemCLARIFICATION In “Likud MK denounces ‘infringement’ of freedom of religion on Temple Mount” (June 28), it was stated that “current Israeli law stipulates that Jews and other non-Muslims may not pray out loud on the Temple Mount.” Current law, upheld by the High Court of Justice, is that the right to freedom of worship must be upheld on the Temple Mount, as in all other places of worship in Israel, but because of the sensitivity of the site police may prevent non-Muslim prayer in the interests of public order.