Opinion: Israel remains a friend and ally of United States

Bill Maxwell is biased both against the Jewish state of Israel and its supporters in the United States. Israel is not only a friend and ally of the United States, but also one of its strongest supporters in the Middle East.

Maxwell forgot to mention that not only the Palestinians, but all of the Arab nations wish to push Israel into the sea. They have gone to war with Israel for this reason and lost.
-- Garson Zeltzer, Hernando

Moral equivalence won't fly

Re: The compatibility of a nation's values, Oct. 24.

Bill Maxwell has always had greater sympathy for the Palestinians than the Israelis in the Middle East conflict, but he used to at least attempt to be balanced. He now seems to have gone off the deep end.

He tries to set up a "moral equivalence" between the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine's assassination of Rehavam Zeevi (Maxwell puts the word "murdered" in quotes, as if it were not really the right word), and the Israeli Defense Force's targeted killing of Palestinian leaders. That just doesn't fly. While he was an ideological extremist, Zeevi was a political leader within a democracy. He wasn't involved in killing anyone, let alone civilians; he was the minister of tourism! The IDF's targets, in contrast, were military, and make no mistake, there is a war going on there. These (often-armed) Palestinian terrorists participated in or planned the deliberate murder of innocent civilians. Assassinations of political leadership are contrary to international law; the IDF's commando operations, though, are no different from the U.S. effort take out Osama bin Laden and his deputies in al-Qaida -- or would Maxwell consider that to be "murder" too?

Perhaps most absurd among Maxwell's ranting is the claim that because Israel does not currently have a constitution, that the rule of law is canceled there. Great Britain has survived quite well as a democracy for an extended period without having any written Constitution. And the former Soviet Union had several quite enlightened constitutions over its history, which did not prevent the law from being flouted regularly by those in power.

It is also at best ignorant, or at worst deliberately misleading, to say that Israel has no Constitution. Most areas of Israeli law are codified. While it's true there is the absence of a single written document, with the Harrari Resolution of 1950, the Knesset (the Israeli parliament) unfolded the framework for an eventual Constitution by setting out the concept of "Basic Laws," 11 of which have been passed to date.
-- Adam I. Orenstein, Clearwater

Should Israel drop into the sea?

Bill Maxwell has decided it's time for a little "straight talk" regarding Israel and the Palestinians, implying no one has done that to date and he's going to set us straight. While I respect his right to have any perspective he wishes on the situation, his article implies certain facts that are not accurate.

Yes, Israel is a democracy without a constitution, but so are many other democracies. These countries still have elected officials and rules of law. Whose values in the Middle East are closer to our own than Israel's? Those of Yasser Arafat? Hamas? Saudi Arabia? Israel has not declared war on Palestinians for 50 years -- it's the other way around. Maxwell makes it sound as if Israel is cruelly attacking innocent people with no provocation, and Arafat is an innocent bystander.

If Arafat had a modicum of the interest in peace that Israel has, he would have at least counteroffered something to former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak at the Camp David meeting with President Clinton. Instead of saying that 97 percent of the land on the West Bank was not enough, but a starting point, he turned it down flat and went home to start more than a dozen "spontaneous" uprisings, which continue to this day.

Imagine, for example, the Taliban living in our midst in this country and firing off spiked bombs first in Chicago, then in New York, then in downtown Boston, and so forth. Would we not target the assassins also?

What in the world does Maxwell expect Israel to do? Drop into the sea?
-- Elaine K. Markowitz, Tampa

A complicated issue

Re: The compatibility of a nation's values, by Bill Maxwell.

As an American Jew, I am fiercely proud of the existence of a free Jewish state that welcomes any and all Jews. This was especially important in 1948 when the state of Israel was established. Following the horrors of the Holocaust, where more than 6-million Jews were slaughtered just for being Jews, it was essential for all Jews to have a safe haven and homeland.

Conflicts between Jews and Palestinians have existed for hundreds, if not thousands of years. The unique nature of the geographical area, the history, and the people all combine to escalate the problems there. It is a complicated, multifaceted issue.

Bill Maxwell spoke of Israel's democracy as being deficient because it lacks a constitution. I noticed that he made no mention of a Palestinian method of governance. If it's better than democracy, I'd love to learn more about it.

Am I disappointed that Israeli-Palestinian conflict exists? Yes. Am I horrified that killing and atrocities occur on both sides? Yes. Am I thrilled that my country, the United States of America, supports the state of Israel to the level that it does? You bet. I feel that this is done because it gives America a strong ally and presence in one of the most volatile areas in the world. Our country feels that this is certainly in our best interests.

Am I disappointed that Maxwell feels that Israel is the aggressor and tormentor in its relationships with the Palestinian people? Yes. It sounds to me as though Maxwell is one step away from implying that if America didn't support Israel, possibly our country would have avoided the horrors of Sept. 11. This is ludicrous.

Maxwell should stick to his nostalgic tales of growing up in the South or the self-righteous stories of racism that he constantly faces. At least this is something he seems to know about. Instead, his rhetoric sounds like a retelling of an old Wilbur G. Landrey anti-Israel column from the 1970s.
-- James Rosenbluth, Largo

A voice to be heeded

Re: The compatibility of a nation's values.

We should heed Bill Maxwell, a lone voice in the wilderness when it comes to writing about the Israeli-Palistinian conflict. This field has been practically abandoned to Israel's apologists and partisans, such as the New York Times editorial writer whose superficial piece (which Maxwell demolished in his column) suggested our war against al-Qaida terrorism is the same as Israel's war against the Palestinians.

Maxwell is right: It is time for straight talk, fairness and wise action. Before Sept. 11, it was unthinkable that we examine our policy of unquestioning support of Israel, its continuing dehumanization and disenfranchisement of the Palestinian people notwithstanding. Our politicians remained in thrall to pro-Israel lobbies in a vacuum of public apathy. Fairness always impugned our policy of blind support. Now that we see that our policy contributes to the support, and martyr fodder, of the extremists who would destroy us, necessity impugns it.
-- Paul F. Peters, South Pasadena

It sounds like ethnic cleansing

I was shocked and stunned to read about the Israeli Cabinet official who was murdered in Israel. I know that every country in the world has racists, but I was surprised that we are supporting a government that has people in high positions who would even consider kicking millions of people out of their homes. Tell me again why this isn't ethnic cleansing. Are there more like him in the Israeli government?
-- John W. Low, St. Petersburg

Cartoon wasn't funny

Re: Don Wright's cartoon, Oct. 19.

Threatening to murder an unarmed federal employee who is just trying to make an honest living is funny? Not where I come from.

My brother-in-law is a postal worker, though he is far from perfect (who isn't?).

At least he's not a TV preacher, politician or salesperson. He doesn't try to lie to you darn near every time you see him. He just tries to deliver your mail through biting dogs, rain or shine, hell or high water.

If we start shooting our messengers, fear wins, we lose and the plus-sized woman of high morals will begin to sing.
-- James C. Nichols, Pinellas Park

Post office efforts fall short

Re: Anthrax at the post office.

I just sent my husband back to work at the post office after two week's vacation. I tried to get him not to go. Although he is eligible for retirement, I am unsure he will live long enough to actually do it.

The post office's initial policy of not providing Cipro for exposed employees is directly responsible for Leroy Richmond's being "gravely ill" and for every other postal worker who has been exposed to anthrax and showing symptoms because the post office refused to pay for the medication. These people were told to pay for the Cipro out of their own pocket.

I don't recall NBC, CBS, ABC or even the National Enquirer refusing to safeguard their people during early moments of this crisis by denying payment of the only known medicine available to help. Only the post office has such boundless disregard for its employees.

What about all the letters that touched the contaminated ones? Where are they? Until this anthrax business is over, what is the post office doing to protect its employees? What medical assistance is it making available? Why are they making employees pay out of their own pocket? I hope it's not too little, too late for Mr. Richmond. He walked into an emergency room on his own with "flu like symptoms" and found out he had the most lethal form of anthrax. All the back-pedaling in the world is not going to help now. The post office doesn't need (Postmaster General) Jack Potter, it needs Harry Potter.

I am retired from the post office due to extreme stress and abuse; I know of what I speak. I know the reckless disregard for safety while lip-synching to OSHA posters. I know of punishment for being sick and being harassed and driven from my job for insisting on medical care due to an on-the-job injury. I know what the post office is capable of.

I am not trying to stir panic. I want to open the public's eyes to challenge postal spin doctors and to take charge of their own health and safety. We all know how sheep are rewarded for blind faith.
-- Loretta G. Renshaw, St. Petersburg

Postal workers deserve thanks

I feel everyone should send a thank-you note to our postal carriers and workers for getting our mail delivered in such trying and potentially dangerous times. They are certainly living up to their motto!
-- Edna Kirkirt, Safety Harbor

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