It seems clear that one who commits or attempts to commit terror against the state to which he belongs clearly rejected his citizenship.
By JERUSALEM POST READERSUtter stupiditySir, – Your editorial “Benefits for terrorists” (February 26) clearly exposes the utter stupidity of our legal establishment. To pay benefits to a convicted terrorist, or to a family in the case of a terrorist’s death, is unbelievable.Similarly, the payment to one who has fled the country to avoid prosecution, like former MK Azmi Bishara, is inane. If the law is an ass, then it’s the duty of the Knesset to amend it by passing suitable legislation to bring it in line with natural justice.The present proposal falls far short of this objective and, I understand, is being roundly condemned by judicial idiots not for its lack of reach but for its infringement on so-called human rights.It seems clear to me that one who commits or attempts to commit an act of terror against the state to which he belongs has clearly rejected his citizenship.Similarly, one who flees to avoid prosecution for being a traitor has made a similar decision.In such cases, the perpetrator, on conviction, should be stripped of his citizenship and hence of any rights he might claim as a citizen.This is simple and straightforward, and would bring the law in line with common sense.STEPHEN COHEN Ma’aleh AdumimSir, – Regarding “Benefits for terrorists,” it defies all logic but appears to be in keeping with our low profile when our enemies fire rockets and missiles into our communities, when we are afraid to confront them as they threaten violence if Jews ascend to holy sites. As far as they are concerned we have no holy sites – and this is due only to the disgraceful and disgusting weakness of what passes for leadership here.There are no laws and no justification that should come into play to make it in any way legal to support terrorists and their families. We have far too many graves caused by our inability to stand up for reason and justice.YENTEL JACOBS NetanyaSir, –Only in Chelm/Israel can terrorists, murderers and child-killers be rewarded by the National Insurance Institute because they are citizens of this country.I think this is a farce. A terrorist should know in advance that the state will give any monies paid into it to help the victims and their families.TOBY WILLIG JerusalemTime to visitSir, – Kol hakavod to Liat Collins on a well written article about Ammunition Hill (“A monumental battle,” My Word, February 26).Thank goodness that funding was found by various government agencies to keep the site open. Many of us, including myself, have not visited in a long time. It’s time we all arrange to visit it once again.Organizations should begin to use the site for some of their activities. For example, Emunah’s national yom iyun (study day) will be held there on May 2. This event will give Emunah ladies from all over Israel a chance to visit this important site.HANNAH SONDHELMJerusalem The writer is a past president of Jerusalem’s Na’avah Tehilla chapter of Emunah Wasted energy Sir, – The suggestion by Prof. Eugene Kandel (“Israel should be ‘test bed’ for renewable energy, expert says,” February 24) is at odds with the past record, particularly with respect to “conserve energy and water.”Many innovative technologies were developed in Israel in the past, such as the Zarchin desalination process, Tabor solar ponds and Luz solar energy systems, but each failed to be developed further because of short-cut engineering or deliberate blockage by government ministries.Indeed, the current desalination plants operating on the principle of reverse osmosis could have been installed in Israel many years ago, as the inventor of the original cellulose acetate membranes used in the process offered the technology for use back in the late 1950s and early 1960s.Furthermore, the use of landfill gas generated from domestic refuse could have been in use since the 1990s, but when I offered the technology to the then-Ministry of Energy, the department head responsible suddenly cancelled the meeting and refused to take it further.It is clear that vested interests, for whatever reason, have to their shame deliberately blocked much of the renewable energy development in Israel.Now that offshore gas has been discovered, the proposal by the government to use some of the income to establish a sovereign wealth fund to be invested overseas clearly indicates the wooly thinking that goes on in high places. Is overseas more secure than at home? Overseas investment, like any other, is not secure, and markets rise and fall like the tide on the seashore, but not with the same predictability.COLIN L. LECI JerusalemHigh prices...Sir, The pending boycott of Strauss (“Protesters call on shoppers not to buy Strauss products,” Business & Finance, February 24) is justified and should include Tnuva as well. This is because after the “cottage cheese boycott,” the cost of white cheese or cottage cheese dropped from NIS 7 to NIS 5 – but only for a short time, as it climbed up again to NIS 6.50.Israel is a leader in efficiency of milk production from cows.There is no reason why a carton of milk, a basic staple, should sell for more than NIS 4 per liter. (It is at least NIS 5.50 in Israel, although in the US it is the equivalent of NIS 3.) If the monopoly by Strauss and Tnuva can be broken permanently and not just for a few weeks, the price of all milk products will go down. The same holds true for many other items under monopoly.ALFRED HASSNER Rehovot...and surreal bargains Sir, – I understand from your editorial “Consumer power” (February 21) that a one-liter bottle of olive oil costs NIS 17.Could this be a misprint? I pay between NIS 57 and NIS 67 for a liter of olive oil.If it is not a misprint, maybe you would be good enough to tell me where I can purchase this wonderful bargain. I’ll be there within an hour so that I can stock up with at least a dozen bottles.MARION LUPU HaifaThe Editor responds: It was indeed a misprint. If anyone out there finds a liter of olive oil at this price, please let us know, too! Mixed messageSir, – I was intrigued by the picture accompanying “Adalah, the NIF and BDS: End the secrecy” (Comment & Features, February 21).There is a woman wearing a t-shirt saying “Boycott Israel.” On the very same shirt is a drawing of a missile readying to land on a baby carriage.Isn’t that somewhat contradictory? The woman tells people to boycott our country and shows how Islamic terrorists are firing rockets into our cities.ZE’EV M SHANDALOV Ma’aleh AdumimDo somethingSir, – It is a sad fact that the UN and Israel’s neighbors are standing idly by watching Iran issue lie after lie about producing nuclear energy “for peaceful purposes.”I suppose such nuclear energy could be used to remove the “cancer that is Israel.”Then there is the matter of Syria and, again, the UN and the nations surrounding Israel have been strangely silent as thousands of innocent citizens are slaughtered by Assad and his gang.US President Barack Obama’s leadership leaves a lot to be desired. A Nixon or a Reagan would have gone to the region to at least try to talk some sense into these evil-doers.Doing nothing is dangerous, but leading with a strong hand would gain the admiration of free nations around the world.Can anyone do anything to stem the coming catastrophe?HERBERT W. STARK Massapequa, New York
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