Why can a foreign government openly lobby ours?
Kearny, N.J.: Imagine the uproar if there were an organization called the American China Public Affairs Committee (ACPAC) meant to influence American policy toward China, lavishing money upon our elected officials to push its agenda and funding the races of opponents to remove those not playing along. Or what if there were an ARPAC doing the same to advance Russian interests in the U.S.?
These groups, if even legal, would be toxic to politicians, none of whom would risk their careers by taking a penny from either. Yet, it’s almost de rigeur for them appear before AIPAC and routinely accept tens of thousands of dollars from pro-Israel interests aligned with AIPAC even as our seemingly unbreakable bond with that country further isolates us and exposes our hypocrisy on the world stage.
Both the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations insisted that AIPAC’s predecessor, the American Zionist Council, needed to register as a foreign agent, yet somehow, AIPAC has been permitted to openly lobby our elected officials in bulk for the benefit of Israel.
And they’re a tax-exempt organization at that, so besides the billions of our taxpayer dollars they convince our politicians to send to Israel without condition, AIPAC does not have to pay any taxes on the millions it raises and dispenses in doing so. It’s a win for them, the crooked politicians they buy and Israel — but a tremendous loss for our country as a whole. John Woodmaska
Leader of the free world
Brooklyn: Applause to French President Emmanuel Macron for having the intellect and guts to denounce the atrocities being committed by Israel against Gaza and the West Bank, and to recognize a Palestinian state. The United States must do the same to gain the world’s respect — instead of supporting Israel. George Nader
State of survival
Davis, Calif.: To Voicer Michele P. Brown: Israel’s international legitimacy is based on the fact that Israel’s people celebrate the same holidays, speak the same language and have been continuously present in their homeland for thousands of years, despite occupation by Romans, Arab Muslims, Crusaders, Ottomans and the British. It is madness to justify a Palestinian state whose clearly stated goal is the violent destruction of its neighbor. Check Hamas’ justification for its existence, which has always been the obliteration of Israel, as clearly stated in the Hamas Covenant: “Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it” and “There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors.” Why reward with statehood a group that clearly wishes to annihilate its neighbor? That guarantees unending wars. Julia Lutch
Earned reputation
Manhattan: All over the world, people know that the Israeli government is trying to destroy the Palestinian people by terror, starvation, etc. The world is turning against Israel. It has a real reason to do so. Hara Seltzer
Kids are not numbers
Bronx: Voicer Lawrence Freedland wanted to know about my documentation of children killed or injured in Gaza. It comes from Edouard Beigbeder, director of UNICEF for the Middle East, included in an article for UNICEF by Sarah Ferguson on May 28. However, Freedland totally missed the moral message. God gives a special warning against harming children. My letter spoke about the children of Gaza, but it should be obvious that it meant all children since the Bible reference talks about all children. Lawrence, your reply dealt only with statistics. How sad. Gilbert M. Lane
Entertainment icon
Jersey City: The passing of Hulk Hogan marks the end of an era when professional wrestling transcended sport to become cultural theater. Draped in yellow and charisma, Hogan’s epic clash with Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III wasn’t just a match, it was mythology. “Hulkamania” inspired a generation with its raw energy and dreams of strength and glory. Yet, his legacy isn’t without shadows — controversies, backstage politics and the excesses of fame challenged the hero image. Still, Hogan helped transform wrestling into global entertainment. His blend of athleticism and showmanship inspired countless others and built the foundation for what WWE is today. Love him or criticize him, Hogan’s impact is undeniable. The world of sports entertainment owes him more than a body slam — it owes him its spotlight. Jack D’Elia
Strongman star
Seaside Heights, N.J.: Terry Bollea, the world knew him as Hulk Hogan. The mustache. The muscles. The shirt-ripping. He was too much, and that’s why it worked. He turned a fake fight into something that felt real enough to make your uncle shout at the TV. WrestleMania, ’87 — 93,000 people watched him slam Andre the Giant like it was the moon landing. He told kids to say their prayers, take their vitamins and believe in themselves. Then he got rich, got messy and let the fame get louder than the message. Yeah, we saw it. He wasn’t perfect, not even close. But for a while, he made people believe in heroes, even the kind with feather boas. That counts for something. They don’t make ’em like Hogan anymore. Maybe that’s for the best, maybe not. But when he flexed and asked, “Whatcha gonna do?” — we actually thought we could do something. And that’s something. Igor La Manna
All used up
Kew Gardens: Another visit to depose Ghislaine Maxwell was driven by the White House to appease those who are clamoring for more information. If Maxwell had any more to give, she would have given it to cut a deal before she was tried for the charges she was convicted of. As far as I’m concerned, both Jeffrey Epstein and she are where they belong. Phil Serpico
Deboning disorder
Astoria: Trump-itis is a growing concern. The infection began infiltrating the GOP as an insurrection took place on Jan. 6, 2021, and the GOP basically said and did nothing, and continued doing nothing, as the instigator of the insurrection later pardoned those who stormed the Capitol, damaging property and harming and killing police officers (so much for the party of law and order). It strengthened as the Supreme Court voted to give more power to the wannabe king. And now news outlets such as ABC and CBS are succumbing, paying hush money to placate said king, his agenda and loyal subjects. Therefore, the apparent key symptom of Trump-itis is the erosion of a spine. So, forget about being invaded by aliens. We are in danger of being taken over by a bunch of invertebrates! Karen N. Pearlman
Different histories
West Hempstead, L.I.: To Voicer Lynne Henderson: If you are including Black families from the Caribbean, are you including Blacks who were never slaves or the descendants of Black slaves? Samuel J. Mark
Crashing the ship
Cleveland: At what point do we begin to question the judgment of CBS CEO George Cheeks? In the span of a few months, CBS has managed to lose the Super Bowl, the Grammys and now “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” — three pillars of cultural visibility, ratings dominance and brand identity. That’s not just bad luck, that’s bad leadership. The Grammys, after five decades on CBS, are walking out the door in 2026, lured away by a 10-year deal with Disney. The Super Bowl, once a dependable ratings bonanza for the network, has been rotated out of reach. And now, inexplicably, CBS is pulling the plug on its #1 late-night show — which still wins its time slot, drives conversation and gives CBS a much-needed voice in a fragmenting media landscape. These aren’t just business losses. They’re unforced errors that suggest a worrying lack of strategic foresight. Jeff Barge
Get outta your own way
Manhattan: Dear NYC mayoral candidates opposed to Zohran Mamdani: If your love for this city is real, prove it. Get in a room, leave your egos outside, make a plan and unite for the sake of NYC. Because if you don’t, you won’t just split the vote. You’ll serve the mayorship to the winner of the Democratic primary on a golden platter, with your DNA all over it. And you know it. Suzy Sandor
