November 19: Readers speak out on Gaza operation

Sir, – Many Israelis are calling for even stronger measures against Hamas. It’s so easy to cry foul when we fail to see who will pay the cost in lives – mothers weeping for their sons and the countless wounded who will suffer for a lifetime with lost limbs and eyesight or worse.

Because of our original lack of response, each day we hesitated we allowed our enemies to become stronger – which of course would mean more lost sons and maybe even daughters.

The cost of freedom has always meant sacrificing our young. If we are ever to have peace in the South this sacrifice must be made.

FRED CROWN-TAMIR
Mevaseret Zion

Sir, – In view of the ongoing war in Gaza, I want to know the answer to one question: Has our government taken all reasonable steps to bring maximum pressure to bear on Gaza before committing troops to a possibly bloody ground operation? Have we cut off all electrical feeds? Have we cut off the water supplies? Have we destroyed infrastructure, namely the power generating stations? Have we cut off all supplies, including food and medicines? If not, why not? As one with a personal interest in the safety of our soldiers (having one grandson just called up for emergency reserve duty and three others potentially available), I don’t want their lives or the lives of any other soldiers risked unnecessarily.

However, there is no future in achieving a partial victory and a brief cessation in rocket attacks, as we did the last time. Anything less than a complete victory is unacceptable.

STEPHEN COHEN
Ma’aleh Adumim

Sir, – The US is urging restraint, and the Palestinians are announcing terms under which they would be willing to halt this war.

Until when? Until Iran resupplies their destroyed weapons? Since when does the defeated dictate the terms? The years of restraint should be renewed only when Hamas unconditionally surrenders. It won’t? Then it’s up to us to wipe it out.

RUTH MOSS
Beersheba

Sir, – I have been following the recent events and realized that the beginning of this conflict was completely forgotten.

The Gazans launched an antitank missile toward an IDF jeep patrolling the border, with tragic results. And rockets were sporadically being launched all the time.

This information should be repeated as much as possible so that the world knows who the aggressor really is.

CATI HOLLAND
Hadera

Sir, – I hope all those people and nations demanding that Israel remove the “inhumane siege” of the Gaza Strip now realize that in effect there is no such thing.

Thousands of rockets, launchers and other “vital” humanitarian were able to be brought in over the past few years. Imagine if Hamas really cared about the local population instead of just its violent jihadist goals.

Every rocket launched shows the justice in Israel’s steadfast stance not to allow an even more porous and dangerous situation from developing.

SHLOMO LOSHINSKY
Ma’aleh Adumim

Sir, – When Israel unilaterally disengaged from the Gaza Strip in 2005, the Palestinians had their own land and a chance to determine their own fate. But they chose to elect as their leaders a terrorist group whose charter calls for the destruction of Israel.

Meanwhile, countries like Iran and Syria supply these terrorists with missiles to stoke the fires and elicit an Israeli response – because as long as the Iranians and Syrians call for the heads of Israelis, their people won’t be calling for the heads of their corrupt leaders.

(And if one day all those in the Middle East calling for Israel’s destruction get their wish, the next day they will still awaken to find themselves with no rights, no freedoms and no chance of a decent future for their children.) There can be no peace in the Middle East until groups like Hamas are half as interested in creating a Palestinian state as they are in destroying the Jewish one.

GARY TAUSTINE
New York

Sir, – Surely, any group that fosters heightened unity among Israelis and, more amazingly, the rekindling of Jewish connectivity among the many bourgeois, Bohemian and simply indifferent denizens of Tel Aviv deserves our unending appreciation.

Is it too soon to nominate Hamas and the red alerts it unleashed on Tel Aviv for an Israel Prize?

J.J. GROSS
Jerusalem

Sir, – I am glad The Jerusalem Post pointed out that the name of the current war with Hamas, “Pillar of Defense,” is not the true translation of the Hebrew name, Amud Annan, which means “pillar of cloud.”

The term appears in Exodus 14:19 – “The pillar of cloud moved from in front of them [Israel], so that it was stationed behind them.” Rashi explained that the pillar kept the camp of the Israelites apart from the pursuing Egyptians. It absorbed all the Egyptians’ arrows and ballistic devices.

The name is perfectly matched to our current situation, in which rockets are being intercepted by the Iron Dome defense system.

During all of Israel’s previous conflicts, the Hebrew designation for the operation or war was translated properly. It was never translated for propaganda purposes or for people who were unaware of Jewish history.

The name Amud Annan must have been suggested by someone familiar with history. It should not have been changed in translation.

STANLEY WEXLER
Jerusalem
The writer is a rabbi

Sir, – Your November 16 editorial “Gaza Reality” seems to be based on the premise that Hamas rules Gaza by divine right. This is incorrect and self-defeating.

Deuteronomy 32:28 states: “For a nation lost in counsel are they, there is no understanding among them.” Is there anything more stupid than to wage war with an enemy while at the same time supplying that enemy with water and electric power? There will be no peace with Gaza as long as Hamas is in charge, and Hamas will remain in charge until the citizens there are made so uncomfortable that they revolt.

Israel’s goal must be regime change. When Hamas terrorism is defeated, Israel should stand ready to institute a mini-Marshall Plan to rebuild. The lesson should be very clear – they can have prosperity or they can return to the dark ages and attack Israel while living in the most miserable circumstances.

Hamas must be defeated. Then we can have peace.

DAVID WILLIG
Safed

Sir, – With regard to “Hadash calls on public to end the violence in Gaza” (November 16) and “Activists protest outside Barak’s home” (November 15), why does The Jerusalem Post give any credibility and print space to these individuals? There are many solutions: Bomb, bomb and bomb.

If the so-called peace-loving nations want a cease-fire, let them go into Gaza via NATO and clean out the rockets from where they are embedded among children, hospitals, schools and homes. Insist that a full accounting of monies spent by Gaza be shown to enhance the lives of those living there instead of being spent on weapons to kill and maim.

SONIA GOLDSMITH
Netanya

Sir, – The Into the Fray columns by Martin Sherman are normally quite readable. Last week’s, though (“Aargh!!!, November 16), seemed to be only a pat on his own back for his predictions.

With all that has been happening, what was he thinking?

JOE MILNER
Netanya

Sir, – You reported that a Hamas spokesman, referring to the targeted killing of Ahmed Jabari, said that Israel had “opened the gates of hell” (“Hamas: This means war,” October 15).

The spokesman was only partially correct. The gates of hell did indeed open – to welcome Jabari.

LESLIE PORTNOY
Netanya