Whenever Israelis are forced to kill those who would destroy their country, the shouts begin: Investigation! Investigation!
By JPOST READERSIDF panel will do Sir, – Whenever Israelis are forced to kill those who would destroy their country, the shouts begin: Investigation! Investigation! (“Government has yet to make call on Gaza flotilla probe,” June 7)If there was a blunder in the operation against the provocation at sea, it was military, not political.And military mistakes call for a military inquiry, not a national or international probe.What does cry out for an inquiry is Turkey’s role in the flotilla. Did the Erdogan government approve of or assist it, or simply avert its eyes from a voyage meant to ensnare Israel or at least break the blockade of Gaza, and thus bring Turkey closer to the Arab countries and Iran? If so, the Islamist government achieved its aim. Erdogan’s fantastic accusations have propelled Turkey to a leading position as a Palestinian defender. While he is shredding the Israel relationship, he is successfully establishing an Iran-Syria-Turkey axis.B BERNARD SMITH JerusalemAdmirable editorial Sir, – I think it’s most admirable that in its front-page editorial, the Post called on its readership to add its voice to the conversation and encourage the United States to act reasonably with the Jewish State (“A call for reason,” June 7). I think it would be very difficult for any non-governmental Israeli to make a legitimate claim that the Obama government has been kind toward its great ally in the Middle East.That being said, I hope your editorial isn’t perceived in America as a sign of Israeli weakness. While Israel does rely on the US in many arenas, I think that after 62 years of statehood, it needs to start relying more on itself.I’m optimistic that your editorial will inspire thousands of Zionists in Israel and abroad to take action. As it says in Pirkei Avot, “Im ein ani li, mi li” – If I am not for myself, who will be for me?JOSH HASTEN JerusalemSir, – While I greatly appreciated your front-page editorial calling for Israel to be treated fairly both in the press and in world opinion (“A call for reason,” June 7), it seems the Post has fallen victim to the very same issue!On Page 2 of the same paper, you ran a story about an Egyptian ban on humanitarian aid for Gaza, and its refusal to even state why (“Cairo refuses to let aid enter Gaza,” June 7).Israel allows tons of food and medicine into Gaza every week , yet the world speaks of the Israeli blockade and Israel’s refusal to allow goods into the Strip. Yet when Egypt lets nothing in and does not even offer an explanation, the world does not utter a peep.If that is not a double standard, then what is? The story deserved Page 1 status, if for no other reason than to draw attention to the very point the editorial so eloquently made.RABBI ZE'EV M. SHANDALOV Ma’ale AdumimSir, – As I understand it, the Egyptians have full control over their border with Gaza, and yet they are imposing border restrictions and a blockade every bit as severe as Israel’s.So why does Israel always take the blame? Why does your article not call the Egyptian blockade illegal?RALPH ELLIS Knutsford, UKPreemptive PR Sir, – Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu did a good job when he spoke after the flotilla incident.It would have helped tremendously had he done something similar in anticipation of this necessary confrontation.When the PM speaks, the media reports. He needs to take advantage of this – especially because he speaks so well in English.BERNARD LIEBERMAN New York CityDisgusting clip Sir, – Caroline Glick and her supporters are to be strongly condemned for their disgusting “spoof” of “We are the World” (“Israeli satirical group’s ‘We Con the World’ video on flotilla registers well over a million Internet hits,” June 7).A longtime supporter of Israel, I am now wavering in the face of such revelations, which illustrate the apparent disconnect of some Israelis toward the reality of what was done in the nation’s name aboard the Mavi Marmara. Glick and like-minded people are demonstrating an astonishing, almost unbelievable, level of intolerance and hatred – astonishing and deeply tragic because it emanates from a people who have endured intolerance and hatred for millennia and who know where it can lead.D.J. HARRISON Melbourne, AustraliaPull their policies Sir, – No one can operate a major cargo or passenger ship without insurance. Normally, Lloyd's of London and other companies would revoke the insurance of a ship that seeks to break a security blockade. Why are they not doing so with regard to the ships headed to Gaza? After all, the vessels announced their intentions ahead of time.JONATHON MOSELEY Fairfax, VirginiaNo satisfaction Sir, – “Turkey will never forget this attack,” says its president, Abdullah Gul (“Turkey honors flotilla mercenaries,” June 6).It is time Prime Minister Netanyahu realized that all the concessions he has made and is still prepared to make at the expense of our people will never satisfy the world. Therefore, he must pull back from the brink, now.YENTEL JACOBS NetanyaGood on ya, Liat Reading Liat Collins’s column (“Free thinking,” June 6) was like a breath of fresh air after all the heavy articles, letters, etc., full of condemnation, criticism and finger- pointing (mostly justified).While including all the facts clearly, she managed to inject a lighter note into the whole sorry, mishandled situation – and I loved her idea of ramming future wouldbe flotillas and bombarding them with roses.As we’d say in the old country (England), good on ya, Liat!MITZI KLEIN JerusalemHubris indeed Sir, In defending the delay in providing images of the flotilla boarding to world media (“Ayalon claims successes in PR battle,” June 4), Israel’s deputy foreign minister takes a stand contrary to that of most informed observers, and strikingly different from the views expressed in the same issue of the Post by several columnists.This attitude is well-described by David Horovitz in his Editor’s Notes column (“Sailing into history”) as reflecting hubris. Danny Ayalon previously showed hubris in his demeaning positioning of the Turkish ambassador during their meeting several months ago, photographed for the benefit of the media.The attitudes of the deputy foreign minister are, to say the least, disappointing, and I hope they are not supported by other members of the government.MONTY M. ZION Tel MondGoing home Sir, – I feel that Yoram Dori misses the point (“An open letter to Helen Thomas,” June 7)I am sure that Thomas knows the Jewish nation originated in the Land of Israel, so in fact coming home is exactly what we did. Does she feel that the Muslims now in Europe, North America and elsewhere should set an example and return to the countries from which they came? Her hateful words in fact backed the Zionist principles of the Jews coming back to their motherland.REUVEN YAGIL BeershebaSir, – Considering her remarks, I think that Helen Thomas should go back to Lebanon. After all, she is displacing the original inhabitants of North America, the native American Indians.I also think the Arabs should go back to Arabia, where they came from, and stop occupying my homeland.If we could all go back to where our ancestors came from, would that make the world a better place?JACK COHEN Netanya
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