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Jews And Arabs Must
Acknowledge Each Other
John O'Neill is right in his article
"Palestinians Aren't Invented. They are
Real People." (Jan. 19, page 27). We can't
wish the Palestinian Arabs away, like
they can't wish the Israeli Jews away.
They are both there to stay.
The Israelis have to acknowledge the
Palestinian Arabs legitimate claim to
the land, which most of them do. And
conversely, the Palestinian Arabs have to
finally acknowledge the legitimate claim
of the Israeli Jews, which they mostly
didn't do as yet.
Only after these mutual recognitions can
earnest negotiations take place and have
a chance to finally solve this seemingly
intractable Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Rachel Kapen
West Bloomfield
Palestinians Don't Have
Ancient Roots In Israel
Having observed the leftist leanings of
the Jewish News over decades, it comes
as no surprise that you chose to publish
a "commentary" on Jan. 19 where John
O'Neill lectures a largely Jewish audi-
ence on the meaning of "Palestinian"
national identity ("Palestinians Aren't
Invented. They Are Real Peopl' page 27).
We should all put aside the seman-
tics; the facts are these: The Arabs
who currently live between the
Mediterranean and the Jordan River
are not the descendants of the ancient
Jebusites as declared recently by Saeeb
Erakat. They are the descendants of the
Arab/Muslim hordes that conquered
the Land of Israel after Muhammad's
ascendance. They arrived some 2500
years after Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
More importantly, these same Arabs
have no intention of sharing this land
with the Jewish people now or, most
likely, ever. The sooner the Jewish peo-
ple accept this as immutable fact, the
better off they will be.
David Arm, Esq.
West Bloomfield
Two First-Time Volunteers
Aid Israeli Defense Forces
First-time volunteers Judge Bernard
Friedman and Stan Meretsky worked
with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF),
assigned to a base in the Negev where
they worked in a recycling facility.
The group consisted of people from
Switzerland, Germany, England, Ohio
and Illinois as well as three other
Detroit-area volunteers who were
assigned to other bases.
For IDE volunteer information, call
Ed Kohl, (248) 420-3729.
Israel Is A Democracy
Worthy Of Our Pride
The article "A New Israel?" by Robert
Rockaway (Jan. 5, page 24) suggests that
Israel is becoming an anti-democratic,
totalitarian state that mandates a loyalty
oath for Arab citizens, muzzles news
media, etc.
The legislation up in the Knesset is
similar to legislation that exists in the
U.S. for years. Our Pledge of Allegiance
is not mandatory, is used frequently
and refusal to recite it is not a crime.
Similarly, if Israel adopts a pledge, it
will be on a similar basis. Israel has the
right to protect itself by whatever the
circumstances require.
Just imagine, Israel in the last few
months has indicted a former prime
minister, a former mayor and a presi-
dent. In the U.S., nobody was indicted
for loss of billions in Fannie Mae,
Freddie Mac or Solyndra. Jon Corzine,
former governor of New Jersey, lost $1.2
billion. Bank of America was fined $350
million dollars for discrimination of
African Americans. One cannot exam-
ine Israel without using the same yard-
stick that we use in our own environ-
ment in America.
The ultra-Orthodox have a reason to
complain when gay parades cross the
streets where they live, pork is served
all over Jerusalem and huge revealing
commercial posters decorate the center
of the city. Some Israelis insist on driv-
ing in ultra-religious quarters on the
Sabbath. Just imagine anybody breaking
such religious rules in Mecca or Gaza.
Rockaway does not understand that
Judaism is not shariah. Israeli laws pres-
ently discussed in the Knesset are not
"Judaic." Democracies are never perfect.
Rather, they adjust to circumstances.
There is no apartheid in Israel. Yes,
Israel is not perfect, a small melting pot
with secular and religious, Muslims,
Christians and Jews, Ethiopians,
Russians, Arabs mixed with other
Israelis.
Yes, capitalism is winning in Israel
Judge Bernard Friedman and Stan
Meretsky with Israeli Sar-El group
leaders Jessica and Amit.
and there is a gap between the rich and
the poor that has increased. Above all,
Israel exists in a bad neighborhood,
which requires homeland security to
function effectively.
We do have pride in Israeli achieve-
ments, first surviving for 63 years,
absorbing millions of refugees, creating
a solid exemplary economy and allow-
ing women, gayd, lesbians, religious and
non-religious to live side-by-side with
full rights.
Dr. Isaac Barr
Bloomfield Township
Thanks For Giving All
Views A Voice On Israel
I am writing to support the sentiments
expressed by Isaac Schaver, M.D.,
(Jan. 19, page 5) responding to Robert
Rockaway's IN commentary, "A New
Israel?" (Jan. 5, page 24).
It seems as though the majority opin-
ion in Detroit's Jewish community has
been to support all Israeli governmental
actions, regardless of the consequences.
The Jewish News is to be commended
for giving those of us with the minority
view a voice.
Barbara Zabitz, president
Ameinu Detroit
Israeli Governments
Have Lacked Vision
The letter from Isaac Schaver, M.D. and
Robert Rockaway's JN commentary, are
refreshing to see. I, too, have a strong
connection with Israel — I lived there on
and off from 1969 to 1986 and all of my
children are sabras.
My view of the recent governments is
that they lack the vision and integrity
that we all expect from our leadership.
Shortsighted policies, questionable mili-
tary tactics and the lack of government
reaction to the growing discrimination
against women have caused further iso-
lation of Israel.
While my love of Israel and its people
are strong and unwavering, I cannot sup-
port the current Israeli government. The
policies and actions of this government
do not reflect the Jewish values of toler-
ance, inclusion, and tikkun olam [repair
of the world] with which I was raised.
My view is a product of the Jewish
morals and ethics of which I am proud.
They do not come from any "Jewish self-
hatred" nor a bias against Israel, as some
in the Detroit Jewish community might
maintain. I simply want the dream of
Israel to continue to be a reality, some-
thing that I believe the current Israeli
government policies are putting at risk.
Thank you, Jewish News, for your will-
ingness to print the spectrum of Jewish
opinions related to Israel.
Aviva Phillips
JCRC Mitzvah Day at the Medow
Home in Huntington Woods
(standing: Mitch Blackman,
Drew Baskin and Matt Blackman;
seated: Eileen Cohen)
Whether as a
volunteer or
donor, your
generous
support will
benefit the
men, women
and children
ARC serves.
jarc
15arrie.
248.538.6611 • jarc.org
Oak Park
January 26 • 2012
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