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By LETTERS TO THE EDITORLetters(photo credit: REUTERS)Rebuilding GazaSir, – With regard to “PA to seek $4b. for Gaza at Cairo donor conference” (October 12), I don’t understand why any country, institution or person would contribute money for the reconstruction of Gaza when the charter of Hamas calls for the destruction of Israel.Does anyone think that Israel won’t protect itself and its citizens? Why would anyone not understand that at some point in the future it is a sure bet we will go through the same thing we went through this past summer? Why would other countries not demand that Hamas recognize the existence of the Jewish state before willingly dropping money down the well? I realize that the people of Gaza are living among ruins, but let the world and all people pressure Hamas to recognize Israel before wasting money once again.MARIA LISSITZJerusalemSir, – Norway is a co-sponsor of the donors’ conference to rebuild Gaza. The plans are all Hamas plans. The supervision will be that of the notorious United Nations.I use the word “notorious’ because the UN and its agencies, such as the Human Rights Council and UNRWA, have proven to be as anti-Israel as Iran itself.There can be no benefit for Israel, the free world or even the residents of Gaza by having the UN supervise rebuilding. Norway, of course, has been totally involved in helping to achieve a Palestinian state no matter what the insecurity and hostility it would mean to Israel.Everyone seems to be willing to give millions of dollars, including the United States, with the idea that this money will really do something for the people of Gaza. Instead, it will do a great deal to help Hamas rehabilitate its tunnels and rockets, and acquire new and better weapons for its next round of war against Israel.If one really wants to do something for these people, the Canadians and Americans should head a committee, eliminate the United Nations from the process and do something constructive for Gaza. Maybe then Gaza’s residents would understand that there can be an alternative to Hamas dictatorship.BATYA KOENIGSBERG JerusalemSir, – Why are the African states quiet when over the years western nations have poured millions of dollars into Gaza? Why have the liberal western nations discriminated against a billion Africans in favor of one and a half million Gazans? Don’t the Africans deserve at least as much financial aid as the Palestinians, if not more? Why are the various leaders in Africa silent about this discrimination? Also, why are the Swedes and other western countries or political parties so anxious to recognize a Palestinian state and never make similar announcements about a future Kurdish state? There are so many more Kurds in the Middle East than there are Palestinians, and they have been waiting for statehood far longer than there has been a “Palestinian people.”JOSHUA J. ADLER JerusalemWell-placed votesSir, – Whether it is appropriate for a foreign leader – in this case, an Israeli prime minister – to judge whether or not an American president is living up to his country’s values is open to debate (“A matter of values,” Editorial, October 10).It should be noted for the record, though, that this particular president was not in fact elected by the majority of voters, as your editorial suggests. Rather, he garnered only 48 percent of the popular vote. His victory was the result of how well-placed those votes were, being victorious in the states with more electoral votes.BOB YERMUSJerusalemCandidly speakingSir, – In “The Obama administration’s unprecedented outburst against Israel” (Candidly Speaking, October 8), Isi Leibler implores American Jewish leaders to speak out against an increasingly hostile US president.This is not his first exhortation of this type, but frankly I believe he is kicking a dead horse.American Jewish leaders who can only support Israeli policies that are in strict consonance with US interests are hardly worthy of the title. The true barometer of Jewish leadership is the ability to stand steadfast with Jewish political positions, even when they are at variance with US policy.Mr. Leibler has every right to challenge feckless leaders to stand up to the justice of Israel’s cause. Unfortunately, many seek positions that are self-serving, and when things get hot it is every man for himself.ROBERT DUBLINJerusalemSir, – Isi Leibler writes: “Entire countries – Iraq and Syria – are imploding; literally millions have been displaced from their homes and become refugees; over 200,000 were murdered in Syria alone; barbaric decapitations of innocent people which are publicly circulated on the Internet.Yet, it is against the background of this maelstrom that the US sees fit to condemn and isolate its most devoted ally, the sole democratic state in the region....”Are there double standards for Israel? Yes! But not against Israel.All major Western double standards instead move in the reverse direction – to support the Israeli political Right. We bomb and “BDS” Israel’s enemies while benefiting the Israeli Right with a special relationship, including colossal amounts of economic aid, military secrets and sensitive technologies.All claimants to Western democratic status, all beneficiaries of close Western ties and all aspirants to close Western economic, military and other affiliations are held to high standards – except for occupying and expansionist Israel.Israel’s Right needs to see that it muddles the world’s fight against Islamic extremists when it continues to take over, occupy and settle another people’s land.JAMES ADLER Cambridge, MassachusettsSir, – Isi Leibler quite rightly lashes out at the US condemnation of Israel, and at spokespeople Josh Ernest and Jen Psaki for their vicious, biased statements.It certainly does not bode well for Israel – but neither is it in America’s interests to be in a state of political conflict with Israel, its sole true ally in the Middle East.Unless American Jewry immediately condemns such shocking speeches, they will come to haunt it in future years, no matter which party is in power.URI MILUNSKYHerzliyaSir, – White House spokesman Josh Ernest vigorously averred that the Obama administration was very well informed on the location and nature of Givat Hamatos, the area where Israel intends to build more homes. Interestingly, his pronunciation made it sound like “comatose,” which may well have been an accurate description of the administration’s pursuit of policies.JAC FRIEDGUTJerusalemHollywood and historySir, – David Newman’s reasons and history in “The myth of the nation state in the Middle East” (Borderline Views, October 7) depict accurately what we face in the region today. The irony is that world leaders and the public have known this for many generations. We also witnessed this over 50 years ago in the 1962 Academy Award-winning film Lawrence of Arabia.From the script: “The Arabs also control the telephone exchange, post office, power house, hospitals, fire station, everything. They call themselves the Arab National Council and run the city from the town hall. However, the Arabs are as divided as ever – there is disarray and chaos in the Arabs’ attempt at unification and government in the town hall in Damascus. Loud shouting erupts from one faction to another, ancient animosities flare up, and dissension arises between tribal leaders over the division of powers and responsibilities.”Those who ignore history are bound (or doomed) to repeat it.DAVE RACKNER Hod HasharonPriority is given to letters that are brief and topical, and which bear the writer’s name and place of residence, as well as the name and date of the Post item being referred to. They may also be edited and shortened. letters@jpost.com
