Where are Israel’s critics on oppressed Kurds?
Manhattan: Just wondering why the same coterie of stealth antisemites continue to write letters to The News condemning Israel for fighting for its right to exist. They never seem to be worried about the plight of the Kurds, who have the same goal as the Palestinians in establishing their own nation. The Kurds have been marginalized, persecuted and slaughtered by the likes of Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and before those states existed, the Ottoman Empire.
While the Palestinians deserve a free and independent state, they have routinely blown up every one of the many brokered agreements with Israel and immediately went to war with them. The Palestinians have proven, time after time, that they will settle for nothing less than the complete eradication of Israel.
The Kurds, who have their own armed forces in northeastern Syria, are being attacked by the newly formed Syrian government in an effort to consolidate their power and steal the oil and gas assets Kurds have controlled throughout the wars in Iraq and Syria. The only democratic entity in Syria at the present time is the Kurds. They represent the one Middle Eastern political group that is mainly responsible for the victory over ISIS, and have been a long-time American ally.
Anti-Israel letter writers might want to direct their venom at the brutality that’s going on in Syria at the present time. Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa never renounced his allegiance to Al Qaeda and has ordered horrific attacks on Syrian Kurds, Druse and Bedouins to consolidate his power. Are these innocent civilians’ lives any less valuable than Palestinians’? Gerard Rosenthal
Reductive
Smithtown, L.I.: Voicer Nick Smith doesn’t understand what Zionism is about. He assumes that any proud Jew who thinks there should be a majority Jewish state (like the 53 majority Muslim countries) is an imperialist genocide proponent. Nick, first buy a dictionary and then take a few courses in logic and the evils of bigotry.
Andrew Ross
All an illusion
Bronx: Put away the shovels and snowplows, there is no great storm coming. This was one big sham generated by AI. Gotcha! Jimmy Durda
Child abuse
Manhattan: The MAGA Christians in Name Only (ChrINOs) are not pro-life. They support the use of little kids like Liam Ramos as bait to lure their parents out so ICE can get hold of them. Thousands of children have been terrorized, detained, and many have been deported because of ICE’s unchecked barbarity. ICE is the new Jeffrey Epstein. Susan Kain
Compromised credibility
Dumont, N.J.: To Voicer Scott Thompson: I, like you, have watched the horrific killing of Renee Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross on all the videos available. Unlike you, the videos I’ve seen don’t show any evidence to promote the Trump administration lie that anyone’s life was in danger until Ross pumped three bullets in Good’s face as she was safely pulling away from him and her vehicle careened out of control until it crashed. So, you’re right that “Good posed an imminent threat the moment she was killed” since a moving vehicle with a dead person at the wheel does present an imminent threat — caused by Ross. You should posit your request for a full “independent and transparent investigation” to the Trump administration, a bunch that has already told too many lies about the tragic incident, Good and her spouse without any investigation to detail here. Walter Wolfgang Papenfuss
A risk to all
Clinton, N.Y.: Good was shot in the head by an ICE agent after being told to move her car out of the way. It’s now obvious that every single one of us, Black, Brown or white, can become a victim of masked federal agents. Poorly trained and angry ICE agents killed a peaceful white woman on her way from dropping her 6-year-old at school. Numerous videos, including that of shooter Jonathan Ross, show that this shooting was unjustified, but the Trump administration responds with bizarre and shameful lies. Trump’s desire to paint Good as a radical terrorist is so absurd that the FBI, beholden to Trump, is investigating, cutting out local authorities. We already know the conclusion because it’s been broadcast far and wide. This was murder, and ICE agents are an illegal occupying force. Diane Matza
Deputized extremists?
Tarrytown, N.Y.: The clashes and protests in Minnesota seem to lack their alt-right masked combatants — or do they? The racist rhetoric, masks and disregard for anyone different are evident in both groups. Coincidence? Like a Scooby-Doo reveal, what lies under those ICE masks? A key provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill offers a $50,000 sign-on bonus for new ICE agents. My question: How many of these new hires are former Proud Boys? Did they all undergo background checks and security clearances without exceptions? We need a Nick Shirley-style investigation into these rogue agents’ backgrounds — without exposing identities or compromising protection. Rules simply don’t apply in this corrupt administration. Blind loyalty to Trump trumps everything else. Stephen Talenti
Unpopular platform
Rochester, N.Y.: The following are reasons to not ever support a Democrat again! They support the following: storming our churches to intimidate worshippers; squandering our tax dollars on fraudulent daycares; demonizing our brave cops and border agents; allowing men into women’s locker rooms; taxing us into oblivion with zero tangible benefits; suing the Trump administration to allow boys in girls’ sports; opening our borders to millions of illegal immigrants; forcing divisive propaganda into our classrooms; supporting health insurance companies instead of individuals Americans. By the way, in 2008 at the Democratic debate, Barack Obama said he would deport millions of illegal immigrants if elected. During his presidency, 2,749,706 deportations of illegal immigrants were performed. This may be the highest in history! It’s time for Democrats to have a revival in thinking and ideas. Vince Ferraccioli
Rigged seat
Staten Island: As a democratic socialist living on Staten Island, I object to you protecting MAGA Nicole Malliotakis (“No redistricting for Staten Island,” editorial, Jan. 23). She is in there because of a gerrymandered seat! And her agenda is nothing but an assault on democracy, affordability and health care. She voted not to certify Joe Biden’s presidential win. She voted for the big ugly bill that has left millions bereft of health care. She supports every bit of Trump’s (I refuse to call him president) agenda, including his anti-constitutional tariffs. I personally believe that gerrymandering in general should be outlawed, yet the Republicans have been doing it for years, and this is the real reason Democrats can’t win elections on Staten Island. Gary Perl
Just an opinion
Providence, R.I.: To Voicer Steven Davies, who accuses Francisco Marte of having “Mamdani Derangement Syndrome”: Some folks admire Mamdani / And others disagree / But neither has a syndrome / That should be plain to see / Political objections / Whichever ones you choose / Do not reflect derangement / They just express your views. Felicia Nimue Ackerman
100 good years
Jackson Heights: My dad, Edner Toussaint, celebrated his 100th birthday on Jan. 20. He has lived in New York on and off for more than 40 years. After losing his wife in 2013, my dad insisted on continuing to live alone, which he still does. He continues to contribute to his community by donating and voting in every election, always insisting on going to the polls in person. I may be biased, but I’m in awe of him as he faces three life-threatening health ailments with courage and a positive spirit. Edner migrated from Haiti in the late 1960s to escape the Duvalier dictatorship and build a better life for his four daughters and three sons. His legacy now includes U.S. citizenship, 12 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, all guided by the love, perseverance and values he continues to model every day. Gina Toussaint
Team leader
East Elmhurst: Continuing with Voicer Arisa Haboshi, all accolades should point to Sadio Mane. He single-handedly brought the Senegalese soccer team out of the dressing room and onto the pitch when the coach led his team off the pitch because of a bad call. Sadio believed that soccer should not be tainted just because of a bad call. Gerson Fernandes
