Letters to the Editor: January 25

The Jerusalem Post should be the last paper on Earth that uses euphemisms like “Palestinian terrorist.”

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Letters (photo credit: REUTERS)
Letters
(photo credit: REUTERS)
No euphemisms
Sir, – “Regarding “Palestinian terrorist stabs 12 aboard crowded Tel Aviv bus” (January 22), The Jerusalem Post should be the last paper on Earth that uses euphemisms like “Palestinian terrorist.”
By doing so, you are telling your readers and the world that a lone man committed this dastardly attack. The man is an Islamist, perpetrating Islamic terror. Nothing less.
Behind this “Palestinian terrorist” were the imams who teach hatred, even to children; the politicians who pay monthly stipends to the widows of terrorists and name streets after them; the Jew-haters who dance and distribute sweets at every murder of Jews, be they children, women or other innocents; and also biased newscasters.
All of them egged him on to carry out the crime.
Even Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has told his people, including the imams, that Islam has to be redefined and taught differently if the world is to stop equating the religion with murderous, bloodthirsty jihadists.
Until then, I urge your paper to stop using such politically correct language. Drop “West Bank,” “disputed territories” and “terrorist,” and adopt the correct terms: Judea and Samaria, unannexed Jewish territories and Islamist. If you use the correct terminology, perhaps our government will do the same.
EDMUND JONAH
Rishon Lezion
Sir, – You report that when told of the terrorist attack on the No. 40 bus, Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai, who was exercising, did not feel it was necessary to stop his workout and deal with the situation.
I have one question for the mayor: Had he been told that a member of his family was on that bus, would he have continued his workout? Just asking.
MOSHE STERN
Beit Shemesh
Where’s his proof?
Sir, – In “Islamophobia and anti-Semitism in France: A problematic comparison” (Comment & Features, January 22), Joseph Voignac says “it is likely that Islamophobic sentiment in the West will wane as people realize that radical Islam is losing support, and indeed as Muslims demonstrate that their practiced faith is at odds with violent and intolerant interpretation of Islam, and that far from being tempted by radical Islam they are seen to be actively engaged in a fight against it.”
What proof has Mr. Voignac for that statement? Most polls around the world show the exact opposite.
A high percentage of Muslims are looking forward to taking over Europe and imposing Shari’a Law.
Leading Muslim clerics goad their followers to engage in attacking the values and the peoples of democratic countries who are proud of freedom of the press, free speech and independent judiciaries.
All of these are anathema to many Muslims and is the basis of their hatred and battle against the West.
CYRIL ATKINS
Beit Shemesh
Advisers needed
Sir, – I watched a recording of the debate between Tariq Ramadan, a professor of contemporary Islamic studies at Oxford, and the late writer Christopher Hitchens. It led me to wonder how moderate Muslims could fit in as advisers to counter-terrorist/counter-jihadist planning.
Who can understand the basics of a religion better than co-religionists? Moderate Muslims, being au fait with the religion, would do well to offer context and guidance, and help unravel the logic and difficult extrapolations toward Islamist extremism.
Oddly, the task seems to have been taken on by non-Muslim world leaders. How can they be expected to have the right perspective and insight? At least an offering by moderate Muslim advisers and leaders would be helpful.
BEVERLEY PRICE
Johannesburg
Double duty
Sir, – As per ”UNRWA: Funds to repair Gaza homes damaged in summer war running out” (January 21), I would like to make a suggestion.
UNRWA should take all the money it spends on its schools and divert it to repairing homes in Gaza. This will accomplish two things: The homes will be repaired and there will be an end to teaching young Arab students falsehoods about Israel.
SANDY REICHMAN AND MADALYN SCHAEFFER
Jerusalem
New moniker needed
Sir, – Like many on the Left, Gil Troy fails to realize it and calls his column Center Field. However, his endorsement of Isaac Herzog (“Defining hatred without being defined by it,” January 21), who has now partnered with the far- Left of Tzipi Livni, gives the game away.
Troy’s frequent mention of Herzog’s illustrious forbears is bizarre.
Surely, he realizes that we are voting for an individual with his own world view. His grandfather may have been a chief rabbi, but this doesn’t make Isaac a religious expert. (For that matter, we have no information about Herzog’s maternal ancestors, although I have no doubt they were honorable people.) Time for Troy to find a new moniker for his opinion pieces!
SHIMON CROWN
Hashmonaim
No regrets
Sir, – In her January 21 Grapevine feature (“A taste of the market”), Greer Fay Cashman reported on prospective French aliya being discouraged by a long wait for ulpan places. But why must the course be for 10 months? It could be halved, and then more places would be available.
When I made aliya from the UK long ago (1957), the duration of ulpan courses was only four or five months. I paid for mine but it was shortened by a month because of the large immigration from Egypt (post-Sinai Campaign) and Hungary (post-Hungarian revolution).
I knew no Hebrew before I came, but unlike today’s French immigrants, who, according to Cashman, have awarded Netanya the title of “Israel’s French capital,” my aim was to be an Israeli, so I did not seek English-speaking company. Thus, despite the shortness of the ulpan course, within a few years I was working as a Hebrew-English translator.
I did not leave the UK because of fear. No promises were made to me. I received no freebies and expected none. I had made a decision and was determined to succeed.
Je ne regrette rien, as Edith Piaf’s song states.
PAULINE SHOMER
Har Adar
Non-starter
Sir, – Having read “The case for the Turkish-Israeli alliance” (Comment & Features, January 20), all I can say to writers Serap Merve Dogan and Maxime Gauin is: Tell that to your Israel-loathing, Hamas-loving, power-hungry president.
The logic of their argument is impeccable, but Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s political priorities make it a non-starter. More is the pity.
NEVILLE TELLER
Beit Shemesh
What reliance?
Sir, – Zalman Shoval’s “Why political Islam is winning” (Comment & Features, January 18) is both interesting and problematic. To a large extent it obsesses over supposed Israeli reliance on America.
In responding, three phrases come to mind: misjudged trust, misjudged history and lessons not yet learned.
Nations have interests, and the US is no different. Franklin Roosevelt, the great love of the American Jew, could have bombed the railroad tracks to Auschwitz but did not. Who can forget Shimon Peres’s triumph in gaining France’s assistance during the years 1954- 1959 when the US, among others, refused to supply Israel with vital arms? It is a well established fact that whereas Israel has excelled in military endeavors, it has failed severely in the world of public opinion.
Simply put, it has become the victim of a skillful war of ideas launched by the PLO, Hamas, academia, the UN, the media, Arab nations and the radical Left in Israel and abroad, who have successfully reframed the conflict by making Israel the villain and the Palestinians the underdogs.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu now understands both deficiencies and is addressing them.
ALEX ROSE
Ashkelon