LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Letters (photo credit: REUTERS)
Letters
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Can’t speak
Frequently I wonder what US Ambassador Dan Shapiro has in his mind and heart when he reviews all the aspects of the Pollard case, Pollard Claptrap, Editorial, April 21.
As both a committed Jew and the representative of the US government, how does he justify and rationalize the situation. I suppose that whatever might be his personal take, he cannot speak.
Too bad.
SHEBA F. SKIRBALL Jerusalem
Keep quiet
Regarding the Maariv Hashauva reporter Noam Amir’s analysis from April 19, “Does the Jerusalem bus explosion endanger the recent decline in terror?” I must ask the question: Is the analysis of the security establishment and the media in proclaiming a recent decline in terrorism not a reason for the subsequent upswing in terrorism as shown by the bus explosion? It seems to me totally irresponsible for those in the security establishment to publicize a so-called decline in terrorism if the result will be a provocation to the terrorists to start again.
Why do we need to know? Instead we now hear, that the bus explosion will give motivation to others to restart another wave of terrorism.
It is a totally irresponsible comment, which in itself will only cause a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Much better to shut up, continue the good word, and let the wave of terrorism disappear without the fanfare.
MEIR SMULLEN Ramat Beit Shemesh
Wrong tone
With regard to the Tel Aviv rally calling for the release of Elor Azaria (“People don’t understand what soldiers go through,” April 20), I was shocked by the antagonistic tone adopted by the reporter towards the demonstrators, such as his comment that the crowd was “heavily right-wing.”
This was something he could only guess at and had no way of knowing with any degree of certainty.
And regarding his stress on the presence of “ecstatic crowds singing hooligan chants calling for ‘death to the Arabs,’” I was present at the rally, and deny that there was a preponderance of “ecstatic crowds” chanting extremist chants.
The extremists that were present were so small in number that one had to be searching hard for such a phenomenon to be aware of it at all.
I was also flabbergasted by the false information given by the reporter that the square was “mostly empty.” The square, in fact, was jam-packed, being roughly three-quarters filled.
In my estimation, and other official sources concurred with this, there must have been between 15,000 and 20,000 participants.
LILIAN SMITH Tel Aviv
Readers’ decision
When US Vice President Joe Biden tells J Street of his frustration with Israel’s “increased settlement activity” he commits a double crime, “PM, Biden indicate gaps remain in aid negotiations,” April 20.
Firstly, settlement activity has decreased over the last two years.
More importantly, his inaccurate remarks are soaked up by impressionable young Jews already drenched in the messaging of too many anti-Israel speakers and advocates that J Street invites them to listen to out of a liberal progressive sense of needing to “understand the other side.”
When they get Biden quoting BDS terminology at them it consolidates the negative image they have developed about us and turns these Jewish youngsters further against Israel.
I leave Jerusalem Post readers to decide if Biden did this intentionally.
BARRY SHAW Netanya
United States Vice President, Joe Biden, speaking before the “anti-Israel” J, Street organization in Washington D.C., recently, pointed out that the Obama administration was overwhelming frustrated with the Israeli government.
But how come the Obama administration did not instruct Vice President Biden to condemn the Islamic terrorist responsible for wounding 20 people on a Jerusalem bus for following the instructions of the Koran “to kill the infidel Christian and Jew,” which they are doing with impunity.
But then, why should Obama care, he has nothing to worry about. He can do whatever he wants in his final months in office.
LEONARD KAHN Zichron Ya’acov
Act your age
The Post’s editorial on “Ageism unbound,” April 24, struck a chord.
But the problem of forcing people to retire when they have plenty to give goes beyond the employer-employee workplace.
Recently, I opened a hat store and invested in remodeling and inventory. Then I applied to Mati, the Jerusalem Business Development Center, for a loan.
I went through the process, answering their many questions, and felt they saw the potential of my business concept.
At the end of the process, however, I received a call saying that while I had a good chance of getting a loan, the whole thing was moot “because you’re 69 years old.”
And “yes, you did enter your age in the application form but someone must have missed it.”
It’s a pity that all the public relations about Jerusalem being a new business hub and encouraging new businesses enterprise is meant for “youngsters” and not us experienced entrepreneurs.
YAACOV PETERSEIL Jerusalem
I agree with the editorial on aging, except for the last sentence.
Workers should receive their pensions, which they paid into, at an appropriate age regardless of whether they are working or not.
The country will gain productivity, but not at the workers’ expense. Their pensions aren’t made “unnecessary” just because they are employed.
The question remains, is mandatory retirement appropriate in a free, capitalist society? STEVE KRAMER Alfe Menashe Time bomb Unfortunately, the young conscript “Hebron soldier” has become a political football, a scapegoat for the publicity seeking media and their disapproving human rights hangers-on, “Will court finds Hebron shooter innocent or guilty? April 19.
In my opinion the accusation is duplicitous and divisive. Sadly for him I believe it will create a political time bomb to be exploited by the Left and Right of our political spectrum.
Forget about morals and ethics when we are in the midst of a continuing terrorist epidemic here and the free world.
We are at war against radical Islamist inciters, thugs and murderers.
It is a conflict that we must win. Either we kill or be killed.
How many times in the past have we seen blunders made by our defense forces in the heat of battle causing unnecessary loss of life? Elor Azaria is there to defend and protect us.
We should admire and be proud of his commitment not ostracize him.
JACK DAVIS Jerusalem
Good wishes
Our good wishes go to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth on her 90th birthday, which she celebrated last week.
As the saying goes, she has “dealt kindly and truly” to the Jewish people.
My prayer is that she may be given the wisdom and understanding to override those who decide where she should go on a foreign tour. She has seen the world but strangely never been to Israel.
By all means let her see the Holy Land at least once so that our nation be not excluded during her lifetime.
May she be blessed with good health and happiness for many years to come.
MICHAEL PLASKOW Netanya