AIPAC, which very rarely issues press releases, concentrates its efforts on getting tangible support for Israel in Congress.
By LETTERS TO THE EDITORLetters(photo credit: REUTERS)Undemocratic Sir, – In regards to the “Jewish state bill,” (“Coalition chaos as cabinet okays ‘Jewish state bill,’ November 24), when did Justice Minister Tzipi Livni become such an avid fan of democracy? She said she would not contribute to the measure, “which she called anti-democratic.” I would like to remind readers of The Jerusalem Post that in 2004, then-prime minister Ariel Sharon held a referendum for Likud members to decide the fate of the Gaza disengagement.He lost by an almost landslide amount, garnering just about 40 percent of the vote (“Gaza plan defeated in landslide vote,” May 3, 2004).When he decided to ignore the results he turned to his right-hand woman, Livni, who supported his undemocratic decision and as a mediator brokered a compromise that paved the way for Sharon’s disengagement plan to pass in the cabinet (“Sharon’s leading lady,” June 18, 2004).Maybe she needs her memory refreshed before she plays the democracy card and tries to convince the rest of us that democracy is her highest value.JUDY LEVRa’ananaCynical calculations Sir, – The “Jewish state bill” introduced with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s characteristic pomposity and laced with a dose of hypocrisy, has nothing whatever to do with Israel’s status but everything to do with his need for brownie points with the Likud Central Committee. This achieved, he can more easily position himself to pursue his obsessive ambition to remain prime minister.The well-being of our country and its citizens do not feature in his cynical calculations.RAYMOND CANNONNetanyaTangible results Sir, – While I invariably agree with Isi Liebler’s analyses of the Middle East, his article “Is American Jewish leadership intimidated?” (Candidly Speaking, November 5) failed to appreciate the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s unique role in Washington.It is easy for pro-Israel organizations to issue public statements in support of Israel. But AIPAC’s unique vital mission is to encourage others to do so and take action – notably the Congress.AIPAC’s direct activities on Capitol Hill have resulted in numerous strong letters to the White House, passage of supportive resolutions and most importantly, passage of legislation in the Two Houses of Congress.This includes the imposition of effective sanctions on Iran, and increased appropriation by Congress for Israeli defense programs in amounts significantly above administration requests.In the pro-Israel community there are those who speak loudly, but actually carry a small stick when it comes to achieving results.AIPAC, which very rarely issues press releases, concentrates its efforts on getting tangible support for Israel in Congress.This is what really counts, particularly at a time when Israel faces unprecedented threats.MORRIE AMITAYWashington DCThe writer was executive director of AIPAC from 1974 to 1981.Sheer chutzpahSir, – It is sheer chutzpah on the part of Deputy Transportation Minister Tzipi Hotovely requesting the removal of Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) chief Yoram Cohen for stating that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas had no interest in encouraging terrorism and inciting violence for coming out against MKs who ascend the Temple Mount (“Deputy transportation minister: Fire Shin Bet chief for defending Abbas,” November 20).Abbas’s comments, which were made after the Jerusalem synagogue massacre, however, Cohen said, may be interpreted by some as encouragement to terrorists.I would hope that Cohen’s comments are based on intelligence facts, but Hotovely’s statement is based most certainly on her rightist views.It’s chutzpah that she, together with a number of her Likud colleagues, such as Miri Regev, Moshe Feiglin and Danny Danon, and Bayit Yehudi members Naftali Bennett and Orit Struck believe that the Palestinians are a pain in the neck.Well, that pain is now in our necks.These excited and unexperienced MKs need to think before they speak.They need to be a bit more modest, considering that it is easy to make the connection of their recent actions in regards to the Temple Mount to the recent wave of terrorism.All this, together with the ‘‘Jewish state bill,” seems, by way of results, of having the sole purpose of creating more havoc in an already complicated situation.HENRY WEILJerusalemResult: Uncertain Sir, – I found Marcus H. Rose’s article “The last of the anti-Semites” (November 25) extremely interesting.Rose certainly presents an unusual solution to the blight of anti-Semitism. Namely that we should enroll some of the world’s greatest Jewish executives whose marketing capabilities have been immensely successful worldwide.They would have the knowhow to teach and lead us in a continuing marketing campaign to reduce, if not wipe out the calumny of anti-Semitism.Rose mentioned some of these incredibly successful Jewish marketing executives: Bloomberg, Spielberg, Zuckerberg, Brin, Abramovich and Klein. No one can deny their remarkable abilities.But whether these brilliant persons would be capable of achieving the hopeful result Marcus Rose promises, is by no means certain.The reason for my caution is that the fount of anti-Semitism is to be found in the New Testament and not in the New York Times.The origin of Jew hatred lies in the founding of the Christian religion, which has taught and to some extent, despite recent repudiations to the claim, continues to teach that our ancestors killed Jesus.Until the Christians find some way of effectively not teaching this horrible untruth, anti-Semitism will continue to be spread, to our painful or deadly detriment.The lies upon which this dreadful falsehood rests are contained within the New Testament and will continue to be taught in Sunday School the world over.The number of Christians who believe this anti-Jewish venom is beyond fathoming.Incidentally, I was eight years old when my next door Christian pal, called me a “Christ killer.”JOCK L. FALKSONRa’ananaLost column Sir, – While going through a book of collected recipes, looking for my tried and trusted recipe for chocolate mousse from August 1971 I came across a page of Judy Montagu’s Short Order column. On it was a recipe for tuna quiche, which I remember making and enjoying.Is there any chance of Judy doing a column like that again, as I haven’t come across anything like it in The Jerusalem Post since Judy stopped writing it. People – not just me – need recipes that are simple to make and taste good.The complicated recipes that we get can be cooked by the chefs and eaten by us when we go to restaurants.Please give it some thought.I am now going off to make the tuna quiche.NAOMI DEUTSCHMetar
if(catID != 151){
var cont = `Take Israel home with the new Jerusalem Post Store
