Reports From Israel Delight and Upset

I am a lifelong friend and admirer of Israel’s plucky, hard-working, creative, courageous and authentically holy people. And I am delighted that you chose to publish Jo-Ann Mort’s “Kibbutzim Fall, Settlements Rise -- Israel Loses” (Opinion, Nov. 30).

That piece, with Batya Gur’s Nov. 30 commentary, “When Evil Becomes Invisible,” may reveal for a lot of people the soul-searching over Israel that goes on while our American Congress and administration take for granted that a vote or even a remark critical of Israel means they will get their walking papers at the next election.

At 88, I do not expect to see it happen, but knowing the history of Hebrew humanism and what Martin Buber meant when he hoped and expected that the future Jewish state would make a special contribution to the development of humanity, I am certain that the Israeli people themselves, through their 21st century prophets, will not only demand from their own leaders justice and peace but will force us Americans to ask ourselves: How sincere are we when we rush to give our names to flattery of Israel and publicly denounce the most honest criticism of it?

John V. Sheridan

Malibu

*

The provocative tone of Gur’s commentary is contemptible and ludicrous. My son and I have just returned from a trip to Israel, Jordan and Egypt. In Egypt we had occasion to visit an official government tourist office. We were the only people in the office and waited approximately 45 minutes while a man, about 40 years old but young enough to be my son, carried on a cheerful telephone conversation. No amount of arm-waving or throat-clearing captured his attention. We finally left.

A similar incident occurred a few hours later at the official border crossing, where government officials ignored us for nearly an hour. Is this a reflection of an “all-powerful authority” inflicting a tragedy on an old Jewish woman, me? Come on, Ms. Gur, nobody has a monopoly on lax bureaucrats or lazy young brats.

Frankly, I extended my thanks to every young soldier I met at every checkpoint. If not for them, we would have even greater numbers of casualties to suicide bombers.

Natalie Gold

Vice President, Child

Survivors of the Holocaust

Los Angeles Chapter

*

Gur’s commentary should be required reading by the entire Los Angeles police force, especially Chief William Bratton.

Robert Baker

Tarzana

*

It was touching to read Sara Lipton’s “A Neurotic Normalcy” (Opinion, Nov. 30). As an American Jew and a Zionist, it made me feel proud to see that Israelis and visitors to Israel are standing up to terrorism by enjoying life under the most intolerable of conditions. When the Palestinian people begin electing leaders who value living over dying and negotiate with means other than terrorism, then both peoples will be able to breathe a collective sigh of relief.

Peter Reitzes

Brooklyn