October 26: Needless cruelty

October 26 Needless cru

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Needless cruelty Sir, - Re "Sexual-trafficking victim fighting to stay in country" (October 23) about the Moldovan woman kidnapped at 14 and brought illegally to Israel to work in the sex trade: How can the Interior Ministry be so cruel as not to allow this young woman to stay here permanently? By not granting her residency, the ministry is in essence cooperating with the perpetrators of this crime, contributing to this unfortunate woman's ghastly suffering and trauma. One can only hope that lawyer Yossi Ashkenazi will succeed in his efforts to convince the Interior Ministry to do the only humane thing. S. MEYER Haifa The Big Truth Sir, - I agree with everything David Horovitz said in "Stand with us" (October 23). However, I would respectfully suggest that Israel and its supporters have not done enough to emphasize the historical connection to the land. While the Israeli press, and commentators such as Horovitz write about this from time to time, the information is not widely disseminated throughout the literate and the illiterate world. The "big lie" must be countered by "the big truth." Israel's ancient existence and its victimization by terrorism, as well as the issues of democracy, free press, free speech, freedom of religion, and standard of living for both Arabs and Jews in Israel are matters of indisputable, historical fact that should be widely and continuously disseminated throughout the world in new and imaginative ways in order to fight the vicious propaganda war being waged against Israel. I remember in my youth, in the 1950s and 1960s, Israel was winning the information war. But Israel's adversaries have become much more sophisticated and have gained the upper hand while Israel and its supporters seem to have abandoned the field. It is time for Israel to retake the initiative. MICHAEL GEWIRTZ New York Sir, - After reading David Horovitz's column, I recalled two lines from the opening of David Mamet's splendid little book The Wicked Son: "The world hates the Jews. The world has always and will continue to do so." GEORGE MEDOVOY Davis, California Er, repeat that? Sir, - "'Israel has always discriminated against its Arabs'" (October 25) Labor stalwart MK Ophir Pas-Pines declared at the Israel-Europe Policy network conference, citing the fact that Jewish villages receive comparatively more monetary support than Arab villages - "for example, points given for immigrant absorption." For the life of me, I do not understand the validity of this complaint. JOCK L. FALKSON Ra'anana Cynical, but... Sir, - Re Douglas Bloomfield's "Will Obama put the peace process on hold?" (October 22): I have come to the conclusion that Israeli government policy regarding the Palestinian problem has three components: 1. Make-believe; 2. Lip service; and 3. Evasion. This assessment may be cynical - however, under the circumstances, with an American president who chiefly puts the Islamic cart before the horse, I sense the policy is also in Israel's best interest. JONATHAN ADAM SILVERMAN Tel Aviv ...regrettably true Sir, - It is obvious that the Arab states paid no attention to President Obama's call to them in Cairo to aid his Palestinian-Israeli peace-making efforts via gestures that would go a long way in helping the process along ("Arab states meet to reinvigorate Israel boycott," October 25). It would be very meaningful if the president would now send either Secretary of State Hillary Clinton or Special Envoy George Mitchell to the Arab nations to tell them: "This is no way to treat a United States President. It will not make his task easier, and it will make his Nobel Peace Prize look ridiculous." THELMA SUSSWEIN Jerusalem Guilty as he charges? Sir - Larry Derfner's political columns are tolerated by many Post readers as an integral part of the paper's "all views are aired" policy. But, unfortunately, Derfner can't see that he is frequently guilty of what he accuses others. He says J Street opponents see the organization as "anti-Israel, pro-Hamas," but has no hesitancy in calling pro-Israel people "pro-war, anti-Arab." I consider myself pro-Israel, and I think those who see me as pro-war or anti-Arab are simplistic thinkers. They attack political opponents the easy way, insulting them with demagogic labels, as lovers of killing and bloodshed ("'Die, J Street, die!'" October 22). AVIGDOR BONCHEK Jerusalem Larry Derfner responds: The only people I characterized as "pro-war, anti-Arab" are those out to destroy J Street. I emphatically excluded from this group Ambassador Michael Oren and, by extension, all those people who disagree with J Street but who are not out to silence it. Shopping from home Sir, - Suzy Kahati and Rifka Lebowitz did not mention a good alternative to going to the supermarket - shopping online ("Save on your shopping bill by understanding supermarket psychology," October 25). The Supersol chain offers this option on an attractive website and provides an excellent service in most of the country, direct to your kitchen, with many items on special offer (which are really cheaper), and includes returns and refunds without question. Admittedly, some items are slightly more expensive than if you were to buy them "hands-on," but others are occasionally even cheaper than elsewhere. For example, I bought a particular brand of toilet paper at Superpharm recently, and found that Supersol online was selling it for NIS 5 cheaper. It's true you pay a small percentage for this service, but you buy exactly what you want, and think twice before hitting "Enter" on a product offer you really don't need three of. And grandchildren never feature in your shopping spree. LINDA STERN Safed Sir, - The basic food staples - dairy products, bread, meat and fish and vegetables - are generally set up on four different sides of the (supermarket) square. If they are all you are shopping for, walk around the periphery of the store and buy only what you need. The minute you turn down one of the aisles, you will be tempted to disregard your shopping list. SHEILA ROTENBERG Petah Tikva Thanks, 'Post'! Sir, - Re "Confronting Goldstone" (October 16), I want to take this opportunity to thank Herb Keinon for a clear picture of our present dilemma, which has (as usual) so many political ramifications. I'd also like to thank editor-in-chief David Horovitz and his contributors for the fair and balanced assessments that appear so often in the Post. These all keep the wheels of my mind turning and further enhance the pleasure I feel at being a part of our special little country. JUNE LEVY Netanya Sir, - I'm an Italian boy. I want to tell you that your newspaper is the best. I hope that one day in Italy there will be a newspaper like that. FEDERICO ARTIZZU Rome