Zionism is Jewish safety. What’s the opposite?
Bronx: To Voicer Adnan Aslam: While it’s true that a formal Zionist movement came into existence in the late 19th century, that movement was a consolidation of multiple currents, both religious and secular, of Jews returning to the Holy Land dating back to Roman times and arising in response to periodic antisemitic outbursts throughout the centuries. Theodor Herzl wrote “The Jewish State” in 1896 as a direct response to what he observed in France during the Dreyfus Affair.
You argue that Israel is permanently at war. Must one reiterate how many times Israel has been attacked and forced to defend itself? Even the present situation, which began with the attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 is a treacherous example of duplicity: the aggressor claims to be the aggrieved while Israel, having done nothing more than react, is chastised by the international community, which is dominated by enemies of Israel. When it comes to killing Jews, any excuse will do. That is blatant antisemitism.
As for the photo purportedly showing young Jews opposing Israel, I don’t know whether it was included to imply that such Jewish dissent makes a meaningful point. That they are Jews doesn’t make the argument more significant. Do they also object to F-35 fighter jets being sold to Saudi Arabia? They’re young, still forming their understanding of the world, influenced by many college demonstrations and currently being used by those who would seek to destroy them as well. Had Israel existed before the Second World War, there would have been a place to accept Jewish refugees, and 6 million would not have died. Is Israel important to the Jews? Damn right it is. Murray Richman
Stop stealing
Brooklyn: Hats off to Voicer Steven Davies’ criticism of Ben Krull’s puff piece on Zionism (“Chanukah and the Zionism of my own imagination,” op-ed, Dec. 14). If Zionists endeavored to join the community of man instead of praising themselves about how wonderful they are even as they usurp land that doesn’t belong to them, the world would be a safer place. The latest instance of this tribalism is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s condemnation of Australia’s prime minister for the Bondi Beach attacks. In Netanyahu’s warped view, if Australia advocates for Palestinian statehood, that amounts to aiding and abetting a terrorist act. This is part of the Zionist playbook: If awful things happen, Israel is never to blame. Labelling oppressed people as terrorists has now become the gold standard for delegitimizing the rights of their fellow human beings. Nick Smith
Unpardonable offenses
Lake Ariel, Pa.: To Voicer Jonathan Brewster: Believe me, I do give credit where credit is due. And I can tell you that our commander in chief President Trump does not offer pardons to communists, liberal socialists or illegals. So I guess your buddy Mysonne Linen is out of luck. Joseph Beyhl
Imperial evil
Manhattan: Trump dumped our long-time European allies with whom we formed NATO to defend against threats like rampant Russian imperialism. Now he has his greedy, commercial-minded eyes on making money in South America and the Arctic. Why are we blasting to smithereens likely fishing boats from Venezuela? A war crime for sure, but a way to seize the country’s ample oil reserves. Trump still has his greedy eyes on Greenland and Canada. Where is Congress, which is supposed to decide whether we go to war? House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and my House Rep. Adriano Espaillat should lead the way in pushing the two War Powers Resolutions to halt a forever war with Venezuela. Sen. Adam Schiff will ask for unanimous consent to force the Defense Department to release the video of the killing of two boat strike survivors, clinging to wreckage and waving for help. What kind of county have we become? Danette Lipten
Check this madness
Manhattan: Stop the undeclared war for Venezuelan oil and regime change. We’ll know by now whether Jeffries got the yes votes on the two War Power Resolutions to prevent another endless war as Trump ponders invasion after killing 87 people in boat strikes with no evidence that they were heading to the U.S. to do harm. I hope Espaillat did the right thing. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer must push Schiff to go ahead with his plan for unanimous consent on a bill requiring the administration to release the full Sept. 2 boat strike video where victims clinging to pieces of wreckage and waving for help were bombed in a “double-tap.” Department of “War” Secretary Pete Hegseth was thrilled to show off the rest of the boat strike videos. Joel Chaffee
Regime change
Utica, N.Y.: Trump’s loathsome response to the tragic death of Rob Reiner and his wife Michele really summed up his legacy: “If it ain’t about me, I’ll make it about me!” In fact, we absolutely believe there is a personality disorder known as “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” but we define it as the unwillingness to break from him, or even to publicly disagree with him, no matter what vile, repugnant, sleazy, reprehensible or vicious thing he may have said or done. TDS is also characterized by a singular lack of courage and a complete absence of humanity, decency or honor, as embodied by House Speaker Mike Johnson and his fellow Republican lemmings in the House, Senate and media. America’s only hope for relief from this political pandemic would be to remove these infected traitors and their leader from power as soon as possible! Jeff and Joan Ganeles
Be quiet
Rockaway Point: I voted for you, but please shut your mouth and stop patting yourself on the back — self-praise stinks. Regardless of his politics, Rob Reiner was killed, and most likely by his own son. Very sad. Regina Mangan
Mic-drop message
Massapequa, L.I.: Regarding the remarks the president of the United States about the tragic, fratricidal murder of the Reiners, the famous words of attorney Joseph Welch (chiding Republican Sen. Joe McCarthy in the 1950s): “Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last?” Paul Pepe
Alternative economy
Brooklyn: If Pinocchio told as many lies as Trump did in his angry and deranged rant to the nation, his nose would have extended about a mile and a half. Trump claimed that the economy he inherited from Joe Biden was “a mess” and the nation was on the verge of “ruin.” Yet, in October of last year, The Economist had a cover story acknowledging that the U.S. economy under Biden was “The Envy of the World,” which it was. All three major domestic stock indexes were at record highs, there was sold GDP growth, no recession and near record-low unemployment. Gas prices and inflation, although high, were well below most industrialized nations and coming down. On the day Biden left office, inflation was 3% — exactly what it is now, giving the lie to Trump’s claim that inflation when he took office was at record highs and that he brought it down. Dennis Middlebrooks
Brief break
Bedford, N.Y.: To Voicer Michael Ilardi: The answer is yes, when you get arrested in the U.S., you are separated from your family — at least for a few hours, until they get let out with no consequences from the district attorney. Jeff Reed
Violent crime
Manhattan: To Voicer Michael Barnhart: Regarding your comment about the stabbing in Macy’s having nothing to do with a conservative mindset, a violent individual can not walk among us regardless of the cause, whether mental illness or a psychopathic criminal! At the end of the day, both should be incarcerated. Mental illness doesn’t make everyone who has it a deranged killer. Kerri Aherne belongs in jail. She attacked a woman in a ladies’ room, and make no mistake, she was aiming to kill. Just because she wasn’t successful doesn’t make it any less so! Any other “tools” you suggest will not help this woman. A few tablets aren’t going to cure a homicidal maniac! Whether they’re a danger to themselves or others, they should be in a full-time lockup facility. The police keep us safe every day! The stronger the police force, the better for public safety. Carrie Tassa
