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'We are not alone'

There are few moments in one's lifetime that will be remembered forever. While standing on stage at the rally for Israel on July 23, looking at the huge number of people who came to express their support for Israel, I had such a moment. 

It is difficult for me to describe the range of emotions that I felt during the rally. We talk a lot about the relationship between Israel and the Jewish community, but since the attacks on Israel, I have had the privilege of witnessing in person the depth and true meaning of this relationship. 

The scope of commitment, love and concern that have been extended to the people of Israel by Northern California's Jewish communities is remarkable. Every single day we receive letters and phone calls supporting us in these difficult times. Rallies and gatherings have been arranged in every major city in the area. People want to be involved, to help, to be with us. 

And we do need this support. Israel's quest for peace and security faces enormous challenges that will not be defeated easily.

The view from the stage on Sunday has indicated clearly that we are not alone in that quest. 

Omer Caspi | San Francisco
deputy consul-general
Consulate General of Israel

'Only me'?

Is it only me that's sick to death of hearing about the tragedy of Lebanese civilians being killed, while next to nothing is said about the tragedy of Israeli civilians being killed by Hezbollah missile attacks? 

Is it only me that's sick to death of hearing about the tragic effect of the situation on the Lebanese people and economy, while next to nothing is said about the tragic effect on the Israeli people and economy? 

Is it only me that's sick to death of hearing about Israel supposedly intentionally killing Lebanese civilians, while next to nothing is said about Hezbollah missiles' ball-bearings to ensure maximum injuries to Israeli civilians? 

Is it only me that's sick to death of hearing Israel being characterized as the aggressor, while next to nothing is said about Hezbollah starting it by kidnapping two soldiers and firing missiles into Israel? 

Is it only me that's sick to death of hearing Israel should stop its actions in Lebanon, while next to nothing is said about Hezbollah stopping its missiles? 

Is it only me that sees anti-Semitism in all of this? What other reason could there be for talking of the Lebanese "catastrophe" while ignoring the Israeli "catastrophe?"

 Stephen L. Joseph | San Francisco




What's needed

Israel is in a two-fronted war it didn't start. Where were the signs urging victory for Israel at the July 23 rally in San Francisco? Why all the "Peace" signs and tepid, polite speeches?

There was a great deal of support for the courageous Jews in 1948. The impossible odds of seven trained, fully equipped Arab armies against 18,000 Jews — of whom thousands did not even have a gun — found much of the world praying for Jewish success and cheering them to victory.

That's what is required at the present moment, not another peace march.

Michael Disend | San Francisco




Negotiate now

Why not start negotiations now with some international group to prevent more people from being killed and each country devastated.

Dolores Helman | Berkeley




Visionary Herzl

Regarding a proportional response to aggressive rocket attacks and kidnappings, which predated and ignited this current conflict, I suggest we give Jews 22 countries to call home as Arab Muslims have.

Let there be a 57-Jewish-nation voting bloc in the United Nations to match the clout of the 57 Muslim nation voting bloc which is currently holding the world hostage by refusing to define the word terrorist, let alone unite to disarm them.

I'm not serious about giving Israel more countries and land. But I am hoping that someday the world will accept that Jews deserve one country to call their own.

As visionary Theodore Herzl put it: "The Promised Land, where it is all right for us to have hooked noses, black or red beards and bandy legs without being despised for those things alone. Where at last we can live as free men on our own soil and die in peace in our own homeland. Where we, too, can expect honor as a reward for great deeds: where we shall live at peace with all the world, which we shall have freed through our own freedom enriched by our wealth, and made greater by our greatness."

Sheree Roth | Palo Alto




'Omitted' facts

In the interest of accurate reporting both in j. and the general media, some important facts have been glossed over and omitted among the deluge of information pouring out from events in Lebanon and Israel.

First, Hezbollah did not just kidnap and kill some Israeli soldiers — they also took some body parts. And they will pay with a lot of blood until they give them back. (There also have been several other soldiers kidnapped through the years.) These are people Israel should negotiate with?

Second, the only reason certain Arab and European countries, like Syria and Russia, have called Israel's response excessive is because all of those countries have deeply rooted traditions of not valuing Jewish life.

Now, Israel will teach them to think differently because Jewish life is not cheap.

Finally, why don't the Jewish pundits who recently demonstrated against Israel in San Francisco join Hezbollah? Because there is no difference between doing that and demonstrating against Israel from protecting the lives of its soldiers and civilians, including Arabs, who were killed.

Mordechai Pelta | San Francisco




Haters, not friends

Hillary Clinton, President Bush and the entire Senate support Israel's right to defend itself. Many Arab governments have been silent about what is going on, and Saudi Arabia has even criticized the actions of Hezbollah. And when columnists like James Carroll and Amos Oz (both occasionally harsh critics of Israel) support what Israel is doing, you have reached a moment when it is clear that those who still oppose what Israel is doing are haters of Israel, not just critical friends.

Which brings me to the counter-demonstration I attended July 17 at the Israeli consulate. Jewish Voice for Peace and Jews for a Free Palestine led an anti-Israel demonstration, joined by Palestinian groups and hard-left groups like International ANSWER.

I was part of a group of counter-protestors across the street, organized by Stand With Us and San Francisco Voice for Israel.

It is time that the Jewish community recognizes groups like the JVP and JFFP for what they are — far left Israel-haters. They are not peace groups in any meaningful sense; they just root for the other side. If their agenda were ever adopted, the Jews of Israel would be annihilated.

Tom Freeman | Orinda




The lesson

I read "Face to Face with Hate" and was very impressed by columnist Dan Pine (July 21 j.) It's wonderful that he can't bring himself to hate the people who hate him and his relatives in Israel so much.

I would only want to remind him that many Nazis were excellent family men and probably very nice people to their own.

The lesson from the Al-Awda convention is that nothing will satisfy these people short of the complete and total destruction of the state of Israel.

I would also mention that these people do a real disservice to the Palestinian people. Their "one Palestine from the river to the sea" echos the slogans of the far right in Israel and plays into their hands. The result can be only more deaths and suffering.

Reuven Segev | San Rafael




Desire to destroy

Your June 30 headline "Hamas agrees to document accepting Israel" is, sadly, not correct. The so-called "Prisoner's Document" signed by Hamas and Fatah does not recognize Israel's right to exist either explicitly or implicitly.

Although the document refers to a Palestinian state "on all the territories occupied in 1967," for Hamas, all of Israel is "occupied," so this phrase means pre-1967 Israel as well as the West Bank and Gaza.

Moreover, even if Palestinians accept a state now in only the West Bank and Gaza, this is not "recognition of Israel's right to exist," because Palestinians have made clear for decades their philosophy of "phased" destruction of Israel.

Hamas leaders have explicitly disavowed recognition many times. For example, the BBC recently reported that "Palestinian Minister Abdel Rahman Zeidan told the BBC the Hamas-Fatah document did not in any way recognize the state of Israel ... Hamas negotiators have told the BBC that the entire state of Israel has been built on occupied Palestinian land. They believe that a Palestinian state on the West Bank and Gaza is a first step, not a final step."

The Jewish people should know that when a group says it wants to destroy us, we should believe them.

Dan Fendel | Piedmont




Stop the restraint

Hundreds of thousands are in bomb shelters because of rocket attacks, but the prime minister said that the Israeli response "will be restrained, but very, very painful" (July 14 j.). Only restrained and very painful?

Stop the restrained behavior already. Turn South Lebanon into another Dresden. Burn everything. Then Israel should annex South Lebanon to protect its northern communities — just like America annexed Florida (about 1818) to protect its southern communities from attack.

Apply the same tactics to Gaza, and give the rest of the Arabs 24 hours to leave Israel or suffer the same fate.

Neal Wohlmuth | San Francisco

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