Sometimes the truth hurtsUnlike the letter writer in “Inbox” (June 2), I found Ari Shavit’s “My Promised Land” perfectly understandable and quite stimulating.To be a Zionist simply means that one believes Jews to be a nation with a land to call their own – and not just a religion. If you believe Judaism is just a religion then you are not a Zionist.Shavit, on the other hand, certainly believes that the Jews are a people entitled to a land like any other nation. That land is Israel. He does not deny that. If I had to sum up the conclusion of his book, it would be that Shavit has bravely chosen to not allow Jews to turn away from aspects of the young nation’s history that the Jewish narrative (perhaps conveniently) has left out.He makes it clear in his book that he is not apologizing for Israel (warts and all), and that he is grateful that Israel exists. Yet I feel he has given us a more complete picture of the creation of Israel that should leave us both proud of Israel’s creation, and perhaps just a bit more sympathetic to the Arab narrative. There is no doubt that history has shown us that Jews “needed” this land, but it came at a big humanitarian price. Shavit pays tribute to those in our Jewish history who made very tough ethical choices so that future generations of Jews could reap the benefits. Sometimes the truth hurts, but that does not mean we ignore the truth.- Dr. Michael Weizman Asheville, North CarolinaNetanyahu was rightThe Jerusalem Report (June 2) contains separate articles by Gilead Sher, Yariv Oppenheimer and Leslie Susser blaming the collapse of the US-led peace talks on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s refusal to make the necessary concessions for a “twostate solution for peace.”However, these concessions would have required Israel to cede all of Judea and Samaria to a Palestinian state that would include Hamas terrorists. This would expose all of Israel to rocket attack. The western border of the PLO-Hamas state would be 10 miles from the Mediterranean Sea. Such a weakening of Israel would not buy the peace promised by the doves. It would embolden Arab aggression. No Israeli concessions have ever satisfied the Palestinians for long. Israelis should prefer friendly relations with Palestinians but they can survive the absence. They need not place themselves in jeopardy in a futile effort to buy Palestinian favor. Netanyahu was right not to do so.- David C. Goodman Jacksonville, FloridaPalestinian goodwill?Yariv Oppenheimer writes in “Netanyahu’s missed opportunity” (June 2) that “... it is clear the current government will not be ready to take any step toward peace simply out of goodwill.”How exactly then does he classify the release of the 78 Palestinian prisoners if not as an act of goodwill? And can he cite any parallel goodwill gesture made by the Palestinians themselves?- David Citron JerusalemDodging the boycottersIn regard to the boycott of Israeli products, “Dissecting BDS” (April 7), it comes to mind that, approximately 50 years ago, items made in Israel, such as cooking utensils, had a logo/ trademark of a deer. This was in lieu of the wording “Made in Israel.” Food for thought? We can be proud of Israel’s products and innovations, and hopefully shouldn’t have to resort to this again.As for those self-hating Jews, “The Enemy Within” (March 24), wake up to yourselves as to who you really are. Take note and remember the saying: “You can change your noses, but not your Moses.” When it comes to the crunch, a Jew is always a Jew. Our enemies never let us forget this fact.- Doba Benporath Melbourne Send letters by e-mail to: jrepletters@jreport.co.il Please include your full postal address. The editor reserves the right to edit letters as appropriate. Priority will be given to brief letters that relate to articles in the magazine.
