By LETTERS TO THE EDITORLetters(photo credit: REUTERS)Powerful weaponsSir, – I applaud President Reuven Rivlin’s participation in the commemorations at Kafr Kasim (“Rivlin at Kafr Kasim memorial: A terrible crime happened here,” October 27).This was indeed a tragic and needless loss of innocent lives, which we all regret and mourn.However, to call it a “terrible crime” (a crime is generally defined as an offense against morality in violation of law) as well as a “massacre” (defined as indiscriminate and merciless killing) is to suggest that this was a heartless, deliberate killing of innocents by our government.In spite of the fact that this was a time of great danger and fear, we understand that this order was a terrible overreaction that resulted inadvertently in the death of innocents, and we are all united in painful mourning and regret.But be careful, Mr. President. Words are powerful weapons!R. EHRLICHJerusalem Imprison her Sir, – With regard to “Housekeeper: I made up harassment claim against ex-Jerusalem police chief” (October 27), in my opinion the housekeeper deserves a long prison sentence. Through her baseless claims she has ruined a man’s career because human nature always seems to believe that “where there is smoke there is fire.”I do hope this case is followed up by the police and that this woman is made fully aware of her disgusting accusation.MICHAEL PLASKOWNetanyaMajor flaw Sir, – “Why a Palestinian state is essential” by Michael M. Cohen (Letter from America, October 27) suffers from an obvious major flaw. While it very well might be an accurate expression of why America views a Palestinian state to be essential, it completely fails to appreciate the genuine existential concerns of the people of Israel while at the same time revealing a gross lack of understanding about the realities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.One of the primary duties of a rabbi has always been to identify with the plight of the Jewish people – to seek their welfare and fight on their behalf. Rabbi Cohen expresses no empathy at all with Israel’s fragile security situation, but with unmitigated chutzpah dares to suggest that his understanding of Israel’s defense requirements is superior to that of Israel’s democratically elected prime minister.As a rabbi and conflict resolver, he must understand that Israel is surrounded by implacable enemies and unrestrained fanatical hatred.The Palestinian Authority has never ceased its promotion of terrorism by words as well as deeds.It takes the most vile acts of terrorism and turns them into heroics and constantly uses every vehicle at the UN and elsewhere to demonize Israel by invoking old blood libels and obscenely accusing it of Nazi atrocities. It actively promotes terrorism in its schools and mosques. It joins itself with Hamas, whose charter calls for the annihilation of Israel and which has tsunamied Israel with thousands of deadly rockets.Must not everyone of sound mind and principles decidedly appreciate, despite Cohen’s derision, Israel’s insistence on maintaining its “present very narrow and rigid security definition” for its very survival? ZEV CHAMUDOT Petah Tikva Wake-up call Sir, – Ben Caspit’s “Leaving for Berlin? Maybe you’ll pay less for your Milky, but what will you tell your grandchildren?” (Observations, October 24) should be a serious wake-up call. Unfortunately, it might go the way of all common sense these days, into a mindless void.That there are actually thousands of Jews living in the blood soaked land of the gas ovens and concentration camps that slaughtered six million Jews – one and half million of them children – and are actually trying to recruit more to join them is beyond comprehension, certainly mine. And for what? So that they can have a cheaper pudding or a bigger apartment than they can have in Israel, their own country? Is that the worth of the screams of the victims while the world looked on with no compassion? There is no doubt that one day these people will have to answer for their callousness when they find that their children and their progeny are no longer Jews, with the strong possibility that they could grow into German Jew-haters.EDITH OGNALLNetanyaNot to worry Sir, – Reader Ida Selavan Schwarcz criticizes me for touching manuscript pages with ungloved hands (“A no-no,” Letters, October 24). A more careful look would reveal that I was holding a manuscript encased within a mylar sleeve.The truth is that current research into the use of white gloves shows that they are liable to do more harm than good. Gloves are just as likely to be as dirty as fingers and do not allow nearly as much dexterity as uncovered hands.Clean, dry hands, free from creams and lotions, are preferable in the majority of circumstances.I assure Ms. Schwarcz that the National Library implements the highest standards of professional care in use and handling of collection items.AVIAD STOLLMANJerusalemThe writer is head of collections at the National LibraryNot so clear Sir, – Thank you for printing the response of a US official (Clarification, October 23) to Steven Emerson’s “A story of betrayal: How the US first agreed and then refused to help locate a missing IDF soldier” (Observations, October 17).The article needed some sort of reaction from the US or Israeli government to substantiate it.However, this official did not contradict the article and probably confirmed it.Therefore, The Jerusalem Post must go back to the unnamed US official and get a clarification to the clarification. “Yes or no: Did the US Attorney’s Office on July 22 receive a response from the FBI saying thank you for your effort, input and assistance, but we regret to inform you that we have been denied approval to move forward with the legal process, or words to that effect?” And if so, a further question must be asked. “Yes or no: Did those instructions come from the office of Attorney-General Eric Holder?” These are the issues that Mr.Emerson alleged.If the official refuses to answer those questions, it must be assumed that his answers would be in the affirmative.LEWIS ALSTERRa’ananaShould be gratefulSir, – Just recently our minister of defense was snubbed by the Obama administration for insulting jibes he made some months ago. Your columnist Caroline B.Glick is continuously bashing President Obama, and letter writers are continuously accusing him of being anti-Israel.During many years America has supplied us with arms and money and saved us on many occasions at the Security Council of the United Nations, among other things. We should be grateful that it is our only friend.Despite this, we act as if it owes us. We act like a son who, after his father has given him everything should be grateful, spits in his father’s face.DAVID GAFFANRa’ananaPoetry for peace Sir, – Religions are based on scripture, which is mostly poetry.So it only makes sense that religious conflict must be resolved through poetry and not through politics, negotiation or war.I propose that all religious conflicts be redefined poetically so that they can be resolved without bloodshed, winners or losers. So let’s sharpen our pencils, not our swords; send missives, not missiles; and apply our minds to metaphor, simile, rhyme, meter and prosody, but not pomposity, animosity, ferocity, atrocity or monstrosity.HUGH MANNEagle Rock, Missouri
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