By LETTERS TO THE EDITORLetters(photo credit: REUTERS)Housing in HevronRegarding “History in Hevron” (October 14), should the Meretz party harbor illusions of an increase in popularity with its new leader Tamara Zandberg, they can rest assured there will have as much success in the future as they have always had in the past – practically none.Witness her latest performance in the Knesset when she delivered a speech that was in the same vein as every other Meretz leader. Not a word about her plans for a safer securer Israel; how to build a strong and firm economy; how to deal with the pressing and urgent problem of an aging population and a health service to manage this phenomenon. No. What was of concern to the furious Zanberg was the government’s intention to approve 31 housing units in Hebron.I cannot begin to imagine what type of thought process this lady possesses when she is incensed and roused to seething anger by the thought of houses being built for Jewish families in the Jewish city of Hebron. Does she really need to be reminded that Hebron is the second-holiest city after Jerusalem ?It is heartbreaking in the extreme when Jews here in Israel are so antagonistic toward their brothers and sisters. Let us hope that Zandberg will study her history and cease her virulent rhetoric.If not, she will be responsible for leading her party onto a path of irrelevance and destruction.DAVID S. ADDLEMANMevaseret ZionWhat’s the difference? Regarding “Liberman orders halt of fuel transfer into Gaza Strip” (October 14): More than 100 years ago, my dad was born in Jerusalem. Because of World War I and the ensuing famine, he suffered from malnutrition and a malformation developed in his chest that bothered him his whole life. The famine of those years was the result of fires and burnt crops. Fast forward 100 years. Now our crops are being burnt by incendiary balloons, kites, etc. While we probably won’t suffer from famine, we (especially the children living near Gaza) will suffer. Post-traumatic stress is getting to the whole population. But the children may be facing more serious damage to their lungs because of the never-ending toxic smoke.The Arabs in Gaza attack us at will, and our soldiers are forced to sit on their hands. What are we waiting for? The next time our enemies break down the border fence, a soldier could be killed or kidnapped (God forbid). Any one of the kibbutzim there could be overrun.The difference is that as opposed to 100 years ago, we have our own country and our own army. I am very much afraid of war because some of my own precious grandsons may be physically involved in it, but our government must do more to protect its citizens than “...halt the transfer of fuel” that Liberman is now proposing. Much more robust action is needed for a situation that has now unbelievably gone on for seven months.THELMA JACOBSONPetah TikvaRelocate the UNIn “As Haley’s comet passes, the UN itself must now become a fallen star” (October 12), Melanie Phillips mentioned some interesting ideas about how the US could bring about the reform of the UN, including by withdrawing funding.Maybe the most effective move of all would be to kick the UN out of its fancy digs in Manhattan.Why should thousands of overpaid bureaucrats from poor countries be able to work against the US (and Israel) while enjoying all the benefits of life in New York? Not to mention adding insult to injury by parking illegally while they enjoy those benefits and not paying the resulting fines.How about moving UN headquarters to Somalia? I predict the size of the average delegation would decrease drastically and maybe those left would sincerely want to improve the world.NAOMI SANDLERJerusalemDefensive war border changesRegarding “Despite PM’s assurances, Russia clarifies opposition to Israeli control of Golan” (October 11) and the issue of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is correct to refer to the UN Security Council resolutions, but he omits the time-honored argument that in a defensive war won by the defenders, border changes can be made as protection against future threats.It has always been internationally accepted that, pursuant to the Articles of the UN, Israel’s pre-emptive strike in 1967 was a defensive requirement. Nor should it be forgotten that over the years leading to the 1967 War Israeli farmers below the Golan Heights were constantly subject to Syrian artillery.Lavrov should not forget the historic precedent following the collapse of the Third Reich in 1945, Poland, then subjugated to Russia, had to surrender a large slice of its Eastern territory to Russia. In return, the Soviets accepted that Poland would obtain a slice of Eastern Germany. The Oder/Neisse line is the eastern border of today’s Germany, acknowledged internationally as a lawful change of borders.RICHARD SOTNICKHerzliya PituahBDS activists: Don’t enrollRegarding your “Stop the Orwellian detentions” editorial (October 12), the BDS movement was and continues to be everything anti-Israel. Therefore, a student like Lara Alqasem, who was president of a university society actively promoting anti-Israel ideology and actions, is the perfect candidate for detention at Ben-Gurion Airport.The student professes a wish to attend the Hebrew University, but from her history, there are strong grounds to believe that this person might be on a “missionary” mission and have a hidden agenda.We have no need to convey messages that the State of Israel is a democracy – we are a very proud and clear one. However, we do need to send out a message that blatant and active support of the BDS movement and its principles will not be tolerated – especially if it comes from an enemy within.STEPHEN VISHNICKTel AvivSee the light and justiceRegarding “Boycotts and other things” (October 11), one wonders whether Gershon Baskin can still be objective regarding the Israel-Palestinian conflict, and whether The Jerusalem Post should actually print everything and anything its writers submit.His claim that he does not “support the BDS campaign against Israel” is immediately refuted by him, saying, “I believe it is a legitimate form of nonviolent protest.”Has he not seen how BDS activists behave? Does he not believe that their true oft-published objective to create a state of Palestine in all of Israel, destroying the Jewish State in the process? Did he not see their disruption of a film about the Holocaust in Berlin? It seems he has closed his eyes to all criticism of anti-Israel activists, and by default is helping their cause.I sincerely hope he can once again see the light and justice in defending Israel’s cause in the future.ROBERT HICKINBOTHAMTel Aviv
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