MARTIN LEWIS Hod HasharonUnfortunate headlineSir, – How dare you use the word “mutual,” giving the impression that there is equal blame on both sides for the tragic loss of life caused by Hamas and its allies (“Israel and Hamas attempt truce after three days of mutual attacks,” August 22).Israel responds (some of us think it is not enough of a response) to Arab aggression and terrorist attacks. It expresses regret and apologizes for inadvertent deaths it causes.What’s mutual about any of this?PHIL CHERNOFSKYJerusalemSir, – “Mutual” attacks? A civilian population is subject to terror and indiscriminate rocket fire, and its defense force uses a fraction of its strength to try to stop the attacks – and that’s called mutual? If I wanted my blood pressure to rise in the morning I would read Haaretz. I don’t want to add to the frustration over the humiliation our country is experiencing, and to the fury that those responsible for the expulsion from Gaza are still making critical decisions upon which Israeli lives are based.EVE HAROW EfratSir, – Hamas instigated terror attacks, targeting innocent Israeli civilians. Israel retaliated by targeting the terrorists in order to defend its citizens. How can you state that these actions are “mutual?”TOVA KESTENBAUMRa’ananaSir, – Excuse me, but I don’t recall my country attacking anyone last weekend. Shouldn’t the headline have been “Truce attempted after three days of Hamas attacks and Israeli retaliation?”I. ZUNDER Ramat HasharonThe Editor responds: We certainly do not condone any equivalence between Hamas terrorist attacks on civilians and Israeli military reprisals against terrorists, and the wording of the headline was wrong.Beck and Israel Sir, – In your otherwise fine coverage of the first event of the Glenn Beck Restoring Coverage tour (“Beck: We are entering the age of the miracles of God,” August 22), the audience in Caesarea (and, for that matter, the one in Jerusalem the next night) was not composed of Christians alone, as your story seems to indicate. In attendance were numerous Jews who were an obvious presence, wearing kippot and the traditional modest clothing of Jewish women.DAN WISEMAN Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaSir, – I was at the rally, and the thought that ran through my mind (and broke my heart) was that thousands of people had traveled to Israel to support us – and their love and respect for us is more than we give to each other.Being uninformed and ignorant – as Moshe Feiglin appears to be (“Feiglin objects to Beck’s Jerusalem event,” August 22) – is a sin and shows a great misunderstanding of what Glenn Beck hopes to start, which is a world-wide, grassroots movement in defense of our right to the Jewish State of Israel and its undivided capital, Jerusalem.We do not have better friends in this world. Thank you, Glenn Beck, and to all of the Christians around the world for everything you are doing.JILL SINIGAGLIA MeitarSir, – I never thought I would agree with Moshe Feiglin on anything, but he is so right to object to allowing right-wing extremist Glenn Beck to hold a rally at the Southern Wall of the Temple Mount.The Southern Wall is part of the sacred religious heritage of Judaism. It is no place for a rally of any kind, much less one that is totally political in nature and Christian to boot. Such a sacred site, so closely attached to Judaism, should be reserved for religious and educational purposes, and kept far from controversial political events.If ever there was a case of desecration of what is sacred, this is it, and whoever granted Beck a permit should be held responsible. This place, which Deuteronomy says was the place chosen by God for His sanctuary, should be respected and not turned into a den for publicity seekers.REUVEN HAMMER JerusalemThe writer is a rabbiSir, – Barry Rubin gets it right when it comes to Glenn Beck (“Glenn Beck gets it right when it comes to the big picture issues,” The Region, August 22).Rubin notes Beck’s attributes: “Common sense, courage [in facing intimidation and politically motivated ridicule], knowing the difference between right and wrong, a willingness to learn, and a readiness to admit when one has been wrong.”I would say that we all might strive for these traits of positive self-esteem and mental health.CHARLOTTE SLOPAK GOLLERJerusalem
The writer is a psychologist.What they are Sir, – Regarding “The longest hatred” (Editorial, August 17), Muslims are almost always described as “moderate” or “fanatic.” However, there are no moderate or fanatic Muslims, only inactive haters of heretics and active haters.Hatred is felt toward Christians, Buddhists, Baha’i, etc. It is especially directed toward Jews, whom the Koran states are “the sons of pigs and monkeys.”Muslims do not accept other religions as equal to theirs.“There is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is his prophet” is chanted daily by 1.5 billion Muslims all over the world.Most Muslims, thankfully, do not translate their beliefs into action. The few who do are called “fanatic Islamic Jihadists.” So let’s get our definition straight: There are inactive and active Muslims, not moderates and wild-eyed fanatics.ELIEZER WHARTMANJerusalemCORRECTIONEric Cantor (R-VA) is the US House majority leader, and not as stated in the Page 1 photo caption on August 23.