Tactics for Trump
Good tactical point made (“Complaining rabbis got outmaneuvered by Trump,” Editorial, Aug. 31) by WJW.
However, the key would not be to look “more rabbinic than political.” President Donald Trump would not have engaged. Rather, the response you propose would have most likely caused Trump to cancel the call because he can’t take criticism.
And that would have had more impact.
DAVID S. FISHBACK
Olney
Rabbis prematurely canceled call to the president
Thumbs-up for WJW (“Complaining rabbis got outmaneuvered by Trump,” Editorial, Aug. 31). The rabbis should have consulted with you before prematurely canceling the call.
As you say, “ours is a tradition that values dialogue.” Isaiah said: “Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord.”
Yasher koach, WJW.
NATHAN DODELL
Great Neck, N.Y.
Where are the boycotts of China? Of Russia? America?
Contrary to a recent letter (Letters, Aug. 31), the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement (BDS) is not nonviolent, as it uses intimidation as a tactic and its leaders have clearly stated they want to destroy Israel.
More importantly, like BDS and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), the writer views Israel as a brutal occupier and the Palestinians as innocent victims, rather than as enemies trying to destroy Israel.
If the so-called occupation is so brutal, why aren’t the Palestinians joining the millions of Arabs seeking refuge in the West? The so-called occupation is the result of Israel engaging in a defensive war and dealing with the aftermath in a far more moral way than anywhere else ever has.
The Americas are occupied territory, where the invaders drove the population off their lands, killed most of the population and put the remainder in “reservations.” Boycott America.
Tibet is occupied by China, Turkey occupies part of Cyprus, Morocco occupies part of Western Sahara and Russia occupies part of Ukraine. Where are your boycotts?
Iraqi Shiites oppress Iraqi Sunnis, the Saudis are killing thousands in Yemen, 400,000 Arabs are dead in Syria, and the Arab world allows for few human rights, even fewer women’s rights and no gay rights. Where are your boycotts?
Israel is accused of apartheid, but the Muslims deny Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount and would ban Jews from all our holy sites. Palestinians intend a “no Jews allowed” state. If apartheid means discrimination and denial of access, where are your boycotts of Palestinians?
Don’t judge Israel by a standard applied to no one else. Judge Israel as if your life depended on it.
MELVIN FARBER
Silver Spring
