January 14: Show real courage

If Netanyahu wants to truly impress our enemies, he should start by showing real courage and firing his foreign minister.

By JERUSALEM POST READERS
letters 88 (photo credit: Courtesy)
letters 88
(photo credit: Courtesy)
Show real courage
Sir, – Prime Minister Netanyahu says intelligence is not an exact science (“PM publicly takes issue with Dagan assessment that Iran won’t have bomb until 2015,” January 12).
As prime minister, Netanyahu, of course, can differ with the conclusions of Meir Dagan, the main difference being that as Mossad head, Dagan’s remarks are devoid of political interest. However, if he wants to truly impress our enemies, he should start by showing real courage and firing his foreign minister, who has given him ample reasons to do so and is making him look weak.
This might also have some effect on the Iranians, showing that Netanyahu truly means business.
HENRY WEIL
Jerusalem
Noisy footsteps
Sir, – Herb Keinon’s analysis of why Prime Minister Netanyahu has changed his reactions toward the comments of Foreign Minister Lieberman (“Hearing Lieberman’s footsteps,” Analysis, January 12) may be correct. But he missed one very important point.
Like it or not , everything Lieberman has said is true, and many citizens are very unhappy that Israel is coming across to the Arabs as soft. As a result, the Arabs are taking advantage of anything to blame Israel for the conflict.
What Keinon missed is that we are persona non grata in the Middle East and, agreements or not, the Arabs will continue to try and eliminate us. Lieberman recognizes that we tend to grovel and has every right to speak to the public rather than sitting silently and suffering.
HARVEY MATTHEW
Jerusalem
Targeted her, too
Sir, – Regarding “Livni slams Netanyahu for not condemning Lieberman over call to probe leftist funding” (January 12), the last time I looked, it was Tzipi Livni who could not visit London because of arrest warrants initiated by the same NGOs. And what does her interest in funding sources have to do with silencing voices?
MATTIAS ROTENBERG
Petah Tikva
Overlooked
Sir, – I am surprised and saddened to see that one of our foremost scientists was not included in “And farewell to...
Notable Jewish deaths of 2010” (Comment & Features, January 11).
Prof. Max (Moshe) Jammer came to Israel from Germany in the first half of the 1930s. A physicist, he studied both in Germany and here. In addition, his work and writing brought him to Princeton University at the invitation of Albert Einstein.
Prof. Jammer established the physics department at Bar-Ilan University, where he later served as rector and president.
He was world-renowned for his work in physics, was in demand as a lecturer and visiting professor at the finest universities, and was the recipient of many awards, including the Israel Prize.
Prof. Jammer passed away on December 18.
RHEA ISRAEL
Rehovot
Australian appeal
Sir, – I wish to invite your readers to join the Israel-Australia Chamber of Commerce (IACC) fundraising appeal for the flood victims of Queensland, Australia.
Many communities there have been devastated, and some families have lost everything, including loved ones.
Thousands have been evacuated from their homes. Authorities say around 200,000 people have been affected in an area larger than France and Germany combined.
The scale of the disaster has prompted fears of disease, and in some areas drinking water has been in short supply.
The floods have hit agriculture hard, washed away roads and railways, and brought the country’s $50 billion coal export industry to a near standstill.
At the time of writing, tens of people are missing and the death toll is rising.
Those who are interested in helping can contact me at pauli@iacc.org.il.
PAUL ISRAEL
Tel Aviv
The writer is executive director of the IACC