Mideast Assassinations Come in Context of War

Israel has assassinated yet another Hamas leader and the condemnations worldwide are pouring in (“8 Killed as Israel Attacks Militant Site,” Aug. 1). Never mind that most of these Hamas and Islamic Jihad members were let out of prison by Yasser Arafat 10 months ago. Israel told Arafat that it would only be a matter of months until the suicide bombings began, and they did. In the wake of these bombings, Israel begs Arafat to rearrest these people and he does not. They continue to plan and carry out bombings, and Israel is left with no alternative but to take matters into its own hands.

I urge people to go on the Web and read the Hamas charter on its Web site. It states clearly that every Jew between the Jordan and the Mediterranean needs to be wiped out and that nobody (especially Arafat) has the right to give away one inch of this land, because it is in an Islamic waqf (trust) for all eternity. Anyone who thinks that Israel’s withdrawal from the territories would end the violence is sadly mistaken. Israel is in a war to the death with Hamas, and these assassinations need to be seen in that context.

Joseph Gold

Torrance

A careful reading of “Israeli Police Storm Mosque After Rioting” (July 30) reveals that Israeli police dispersed rioting Palestinians on the Temple Mount plaza, never entering any mosque. Your story further compounded the false impression by mentioning “stoning” by the Palestinians. In fact, The stones were thrown from a wall about five stories up onto the heads of the praying Israelis below. Such a stoning is potentially deadly and serious injury was avoided almost miraculously.

Sidney Brounstein

Redlands