January 22: No consequence

The status of Jerusalem was resolved thousands of years ago and it will remain the united capital of the sovereign State of Israel until the end of time.

No consequence
Sir, – EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton says the body “does not recognize the Israeli annexation of east Jerusalem” and that “a way must be found through negotiations to resolve the status of Jerusalem as a future capital of two states” (“EU report: No funds to Jewish east Jerusalem,” January 19).
Someone has to take responsibility for this deligitimization of our historic rights and tell the EU and anyone else with the same mindset that the status of Jerusalem was resolved thousands of years ago and it will remain the united capital of the sovereign State of Israel until the end of time. They should also be told that their recognition or lack thereof is of no consequence.
EDITH OGNALL Netanya
We need an FDR
Sir, – Congratulations to Isi Leibler (“Groveling to the Muslim Brotherhood,” Candidly Speaking, January 19), who lays out what the repercussions could be for Western civilization if we do not stand our ground against Islamists, as we did in the 1930s against the Nazis.
I agree with Leibler that back then we were “very fortunate to have a leader of the caliber of Winston Churchill.” We were also very fortunate to have Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who, having been voted into office at the same time as Adolph Hitler, refused to deal with him directly although he was advised to do so by many in the State Department.
Where is America’s current FDR?
LILY POLLIACK Jerusalem
Aiding our enemies

Stay updated with the latest news!

Subscribe to The Jerusalem Post Newsletter


Sir, – The headline “An upswing in Israeli racism” (Comment & Features, January 19) could aid and comfort our enemies, which surely is not the intent of columnist Susan Hattis Rolef, who notes that “one cannot label the State of Israel as an outright racist state.”
While she lists some signs of insults and stereotyping, others seem to have escaped her, such as the constant racist threats by some MKs against the country and people they have been elected to serve. In parliaments of other democratic nations, such invective by members is branded as dangerous and disloyal.
Might Rolef selectively consider the unseemly negatives of some while turning a blind eye and deaf ear to the dangers of others? If so, why? Where is a fair and balanced analysis by this experienced pundit?
ESTER ZEITLIN Jerusalem
Feeding the tiger
Sir, – Regarding “Deal reached to end local authorities strike” (January 18), in the beginning, local authorities were small, as many responsibilities were handled by the government. As the government cut its budget, it found the easiest way was to transfer responsibilities to the local authorities. Once the government had created this growing tiger, it used it to find jobs for numerous unneeded politicians.
Unfortunately, the tiger has to be fed.
Perhaps the time has come to develop a local income tax system and cut back drastically on the gargantuan central government!
DAVID GOSHEN Kiryat Ono
Unpopular tune
Sir, – Some yeshiva boys intend to boycott the IDF because, they claim, they would be instructed to transgress the commandments of the Torah by hearing women sing (“National-religious youth won’t enlist due to women singing,” January 18).
The yeshivot where they study should be closed for incompetence. The boys have apparently never read the Torah, which does not forbid a man from hearing women sing. Although I understand that it says somewhere that a woman’s voice is pleasant, so are study and prayer.
NAOMI SANDLER Jerusalem
Sir, – Aside from further polarizing society and creating more animosity, the approach by these national-religious youth does a disservice to those who will follow this trend.
Trying to change reality to suit one’s needs will not teach life skills. At some point, these youth will encounter situations that cannot be changed, and they won’t know how to adapt.
NACHAMA KANNER Rehovot
Sir, – Can you tell me exactly where in the Torah there is a commandment against hearing women sing? I want to read it for myself.
Miriam sang at the crossing of the Red Sea, and Dvorah sang after the defeat of the Canaanites.
So I deduce that in those days there wasn’t a problem with women singing.
GERALDINE THEMAL Kiryat Tivon
Sir, – National-religious youth have now provided the Arab armies with a new weapon. All these armies require are battalions of singing women on the front lines. The IDF will either cover its ears or run away.
I cannot believe we have youths who think so little of what they usefully can do for Israel.
BOB GOLD Jerusalem
Sir, – I have the perfect solution concerning a soldier who refuses to attend IDF ceremonies where women sing. The soldier should ask to be assigned to guard duty, kitchen duty or latrine duty instead. If he feels his commander might reject his appeal, he could go directly to a soldier who was already assigned to one of these duties and make the switch himself.
A soldier who cannot follow orders, for whatever reason, should be weeded out of the army. Rabbis who undermine the rule of law in the army should be isolated, and their contact with soldiers limited.
PAUL BERMAN
Shoham
Sir, – The headline of the January 18 article on the WIZO convention (“Women sang – and no one walked out”) was more about editorializing than reporting the news.
Is there no one in this country who can see the difference between voluntarily attending a conference, and soldiers being forced to attend an event at which women sing? Why is there no respect for people’s religious sensibilities? NACHUM CHERNOFSKY Bnei Brak
Stop that book!
Sir, – I am one of many Anglos who came to this country with the dream of living in freedom in our own land, but have consistently been disappointed by this government, one that many of us voted for but which continues to put forth policies – and now school books – that undermine our claim to this land (“Netanyahu’s post-Zionist Education Ministry,” Our World, January 17).
Gideon Sa’ar needs to be dismissed as education minister, Adar Cohen and his committee need to be fired, and this new textbook should never be published.
It is a slap in the face to every Israeli citizen and we should all be screaming at the top of our lungs to our government representatives.
The problem is, we have no representatives to complain to. I sent an e-mail to Prime Minister Netanyahu once and received a reply from one of his PR people telling me it was nice that I made aliya, but we know what we are doing so we don’t need your opinions. When I tried to send another e-mail to complain about this reply, the address no longer worked.
I recently joined the Likud in an effort to make my voice heard, only to have Prime Minister Netanyahu change the date for primaries so that I and many other new members won’t be able to vote on his cabinet choices.
An urgent meeting to check into this textbook has now been canceled.
I’m going to try to contact someone in the ministry and let them know my feelings. I urge all readers to do the same!
GLADYS KARLIN
Modi’in