Look into thisSir, – The excellent article by Tovah Lazaroff and Gil Hoffman on Migron (“Right-wing activists and politicians battle over Migron,” January 26) reports how Israel’s judicial system is manipulated by Peace Now and other NGOs, with the collusion of the state and the High Court.Supporters of Migron charge that “Peace Now petitioned the High Court of Justice against Migron instead of appealing to a Magistrate’s Court because it lacked proof that the Palestinians owned the land. By turning to the High Court of Justice… Peace Now skirted the normal judicial process.”If this is true it deserves to be fully investigated by the State Comptroller and the Knesset.MOSHE DANN JerusalemSide by sideSir, – What a refreshing change from the norm (“Men and women pray together for first time in Knesset,” January 26).And about time, too! The fact that the idea of men and women praying together seems so strange to so many people is itself strange. There should be more of this sort of behavior in our land.Kol hakavod to the men and women of the Masorti Movement who made this action possible.LEONARD ZURAKOV NetanyaMore than fineSir, – With reference to your correspondent’s letter headed “One-eyed bandits” (January 25), I personally see nothing wrong in using speed cameras to deter speeding drivers, whether drunk, drugged or just plain reckless.What is required in addition to a fine is a driving ban on these people for a period of time that is linked to the seriousness of their offense.DAVID ALTMAN NetanyaDefending the Voice Sir, – Is there no one among your readership to finally speak in defense of Israel Radio’s classical music programming? I find most of its offerings varied, interesting and illuminating.One of the important functions of classical music radio is to educate listeners about what has been and is being written – even the “scratchings,” with which one reader apparently dismissed most 20th Century classical music. If I have a sudden craving for a Chopin nocturne (is this now the standard for classical music excellence?) while the station disdainfully dares to program Pulitzer-prize-winning Elliott Carter’s serial compositions, I can play a disc.The public airwaves should offer a spectrum of music, just as talk stations offer a spectrum of political opinion. Music is for the mind no less than for the heart.One does not open the latter by closing the former.IRVING WIESEN JerusalemSir, – In addition to welcoming Neville Teller to Israel after his aliya (“Switched off,” Letters, January 25), I would point out to him that the formula for Classic FM in the UK is 24 minutes of 4- minute snippets of music every hour, accompanied by 36 minutes of advertisements and the inane prattle of presenters who inform us, while mispronouncing names of composers and artists of whom they had never previously heard, that “this is my favorite piece of music” – like we wanted to know! The choices played are garnered from recent recordings of the record companies that sponsor the station – so we are likely to hear Vivaldi’s Four Seasons at least 10 times a week. Fine for those who, growing up on popular music, never thought they had the patience or stamina to listen to “classical music.” It is certainly not for serious lovers of fine music who would like to hear the whole of Tchaikovsky’s 5th Symphony, for instance , and not a slice of the “dramatic theme” from the first movement.In all probability there is a market for this in Israel, too, but The Voice of Music certainly ain’t it.STANLEY COHEN JerusalemSir, – As a former professional classical singer I would like to disagree most strongly with the recent letters attacking The Voice of Music radio channel.I have listened to similar stations in many capitals of the world and in particular in London, and I have no doubt that our station is second to none. Listeners have their own preferences (I, myself, would prefer less jazz), but one cannot please everybody. Some composers who are now part of the canon were vilified at the beginning of their careers.Anybody who does not wish to expand his musical horizons and is satisfied with Eine Kleine Nacht Musiek is welcome to go to the mall and travel up and down in the elevators.LOUIS GARB Jerusalem
January 28: Situation in Egypt
The Muslim Brotherhood’s bad traits, and in particular its anti-Jewish and anti-Israel inclinations, have a long track record.
Look into thisSir, – The excellent article by Tovah Lazaroff and Gil Hoffman on Migron (“Right-wing activists and politicians battle over Migron,” January 26) reports how Israel’s judicial system is manipulated by Peace Now and other NGOs, with the collusion of the state and the High Court.Supporters of Migron charge that “Peace Now petitioned the High Court of Justice against Migron instead of appealing to a Magistrate’s Court because it lacked proof that the Palestinians owned the land. By turning to the High Court of Justice… Peace Now skirted the normal judicial process.”If this is true it deserves to be fully investigated by the State Comptroller and the Knesset.MOSHE DANN JerusalemSide by sideSir, – What a refreshing change from the norm (“Men and women pray together for first time in Knesset,” January 26).And about time, too! The fact that the idea of men and women praying together seems so strange to so many people is itself strange. There should be more of this sort of behavior in our land.Kol hakavod to the men and women of the Masorti Movement who made this action possible.LEONARD ZURAKOV NetanyaMore than fineSir, – With reference to your correspondent’s letter headed “One-eyed bandits” (January 25), I personally see nothing wrong in using speed cameras to deter speeding drivers, whether drunk, drugged or just plain reckless.What is required in addition to a fine is a driving ban on these people for a period of time that is linked to the seriousness of their offense.DAVID ALTMAN NetanyaDefending the Voice Sir, – Is there no one among your readership to finally speak in defense of Israel Radio’s classical music programming? I find most of its offerings varied, interesting and illuminating.One of the important functions of classical music radio is to educate listeners about what has been and is being written – even the “scratchings,” with which one reader apparently dismissed most 20th Century classical music. If I have a sudden craving for a Chopin nocturne (is this now the standard for classical music excellence?) while the station disdainfully dares to program Pulitzer-prize-winning Elliott Carter’s serial compositions, I can play a disc.The public airwaves should offer a spectrum of music, just as talk stations offer a spectrum of political opinion. Music is for the mind no less than for the heart.One does not open the latter by closing the former.IRVING WIESEN JerusalemSir, – In addition to welcoming Neville Teller to Israel after his aliya (“Switched off,” Letters, January 25), I would point out to him that the formula for Classic FM in the UK is 24 minutes of 4- minute snippets of music every hour, accompanied by 36 minutes of advertisements and the inane prattle of presenters who inform us, while mispronouncing names of composers and artists of whom they had never previously heard, that “this is my favorite piece of music” – like we wanted to know! The choices played are garnered from recent recordings of the record companies that sponsor the station – so we are likely to hear Vivaldi’s Four Seasons at least 10 times a week. Fine for those who, growing up on popular music, never thought they had the patience or stamina to listen to “classical music.” It is certainly not for serious lovers of fine music who would like to hear the whole of Tchaikovsky’s 5th Symphony, for instance , and not a slice of the “dramatic theme” from the first movement.In all probability there is a market for this in Israel, too, but The Voice of Music certainly ain’t it.STANLEY COHEN JerusalemSir, – As a former professional classical singer I would like to disagree most strongly with the recent letters attacking The Voice of Music radio channel.I have listened to similar stations in many capitals of the world and in particular in London, and I have no doubt that our station is second to none. Listeners have their own preferences (I, myself, would prefer less jazz), but one cannot please everybody. Some composers who are now part of the canon were vilified at the beginning of their careers.Anybody who does not wish to expand his musical horizons and is satisfied with Eine Kleine Nacht Musiek is welcome to go to the mall and travel up and down in the elevators.LOUIS GARB Jerusalem