Israel’s fears of a nuclear Holocaust

Re “Israel sounds alarm on Iran’s nuclear efforts,” Feb. 7

The lead sentences in the article go beyond inaccuracy; they are deeply misleading. In contrast to The Times’ claim that “Israeli leaders rarely invoke the Holocaust,” this is probably the most frequently claimed rationale for Israeli policy. Menachem Begin used it in the 1970s to justify the occupation of the West Bank, to pick just one example. To claim -- in a news story! -- that Israel “felt secure enough to fight its many battles with little or no help” ignores the fact that Israel has been the largest recipient of U.S. foreign and military assistance for decades.

The Times needs to be more committed to truthful coverage of the Mideast.

HOWARD WINANT

Santa Barbara

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The survival of the cradle of civilization is at stake. This is a job for the United Nations, which must convene a “truth commission,” a la South Africa, with all the parties present -- Iran, Israel, Syria, the Sunnis and the Shiites from Iraq and Palestinian and Lebanese representatives. All parties need to come to the negotiating table so that the world can understand what it is that has caused the seeds of hatred to grow among these parties, threatening a nuclear holocaust in the Middle East.

The parties must agree to talk until the conflicts among them can be resolved.

WALLY MARKS

Los Angeles

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Israel’s plea for world support in preventing a second Holocaust might evoke near universal sympathy if only it were willing to demonstrate equal concern for the survival of another nation: the Palestinians.

ED BRAND

Los Angeles