Denying reality
In the article “Gaza combat leaves Zionist Left conflicted” (July 31), Larry Lerner asks, “Why is Israel bombing all over the place?”
Notice, he didn’t ask “Why is Hamas sending thousands of rockets to kill and maim Jews and to destroy the Jewish state?” Israel has attempted to pinpoint the locations of rocket launchers and stashes of rockets — all purposely located amidst children and innocent families. “Bombing all over the place?” We’ve heard Netanyahu’s statement over and over again, but it bears repeating: “Israel uses rockets to protect its children; Hamas uses children to protect its rockets.”
Continuing with his vilification of Israel, Mr. Lerner says that Netanyahu is “locked in to the settler movement,” as if the settlers are the cause of Israel’s predicament. The Arabs had control of Judea and Samaria (the “West Bank”), Gaza, and half of Jerusalem from 1948 to 1967. The Palestinian “Liberation” Organization was formed in 1964; what was it hoping to “liberate” while they had Judea and Samaria? All of Israel! There can be no doubt that the creation of a Palestinian state will be just another Arab terrorist state dedicated to the destruction of Israel (as clearly written in Hamas’ charter). History will record that the so-called “settlers” held back the creation of a terrorist state a “stone’s throw” from Tel Aviv and Haifa.
I am not a “veteran peace activist.” I am a veteran activist for Israel who is capable of separating wishful thinking from hard reality. Of course I pray for peace. If we are to face the hard reality, it was a monumental mistake to expel thousands of Jews from Gush Katif in order to create a situation where Hamas was able to control Gaza.
Charlie Bernhaut
New York
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