Emulating Iran?
It is a sad commentary that Israel would imitate the Islamic Republic of Iran in disqualifying political parties from coming elections (“Citing Disloyalty, Knesset Bans Main Arab Parties From Elections,” January 30).
It was once a point of pride that Israel included Arab parties in the Knesset. It is in the present day an embarrassment that it would so limit the participation of its Arab citizens.
Ben Burrows
Elkins Park, Pa.
Wrong Yardstick for Measuring Gaza Toll
Your January 16 editorial “Grasping Gaza” sickeningly implied that the civilian death toll in Gaza was not so bad because whatever it was (estimates vary), the civilian death tolls in America’s Iraq War and in Russia’s Chechnya wars (67% and 80% of total deaths respectively) were much worse.
Then, in an editorial the following week, you again suggested that the proper “yardstick” for civilian deaths is to compare Gaza to Chechnya, Iraq and “other recent wars,” where, citing a United Nations report, you wrote that “civilian tolls can reach 90%.” (“Numbering The Dead,” January 23).
The civilian deaths in those “other wars” — the product, in substantial part, of war crimes — is not a proper yardstick. The proper measure is international humanitarian law and simple morality.
Kathleen Peratis
New York, N.Y.
Kathleen Peratis is a member of the Forward Association.
So you say that “every civilian death is horrific,” but you ask: “Given that any war causes some civilian deaths, how many are ‘justifiable’?” I assume that you are replying to those throughout the world — including many Jews — who are condemning what they see as Israel’s disproportionate answer, even if in self-defense, to the real or perceived threat of Hamas. These voices note the magnitude of the destruction, the targets (government buildings, hospitals, schools) and the high number of deaths in Gaza (a ratio of 100-to-1 throughout this war) — including hundreds of women and children — caused by Israel’s bombardments and military incursions.
Consider the following: What if 1,300 Jews were killed in fewer than three weeks by warring Arab states or by an Iranian attack, in response to a real or perceived threat? What if the attackers claimed that universities, schools, government buildings and hospitals were legitimate targets, given that they provide logistical support to or even hide the enemy? How would you to determine the “justifiable” number of Israeli civilian casualties? And what if the dead were all soldiers or reservists? Would these 1,300 Israeli deaths be “justifiable” for you?
As I read your January 23 editorial, I wonder whether Israel will ever recover her senses, if not some amount of basic human decency. As a Jewish American, I am doubly disgusted, grief-stricken and ashamed that my taxes have financed Israel’s attack on Gaza. As of now, never again will it be Hamas or anybody else that endangers Israel’s right to exist. It will be Israel’s own behavior, and that of those Jews throughout the world who have remained silent vis-à-vis the massacre of a defenseless population.
Claudia Chaufan
Santa Cruz, Calif.
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Given the events of the recent weeks in Iowa, the arrest and charging of Rabbi Sholom Rubashkin as well as the functional closure of Agriprocessor, I can only wonder how Rabbi Genack and the OU will explain the failure to see and act on the obvious. The fact that we now have a crisis in the availability of affordable kosher meat is a direct result of the failure to see and act on the obvious. Several months ago the Jewish orthodox world was advised that the best course to protect shechitah in America was to be quiet and not draw attention to the ongoing corruption at Agriprocessor. We were assured by our Rabbis that Rabbi Genack and the OU would take care of the corruption and guarantee the supply of affordable kosher meat. Rabbi Herzfeld was criticized for demanding action from the OU in his editorial published in the New York Times. Unfortunately the face of kosher is now Rabbi Shalom Rubashkin in cuffs and shackles published in every newspaper in America. We all knew this day would come. I fear that the failure to act months ago has created a crisis in shechitah in America. The Rubashkins with the complacency of Rabbi Genack and the OU has handed the opponents of shechitah all the evidence they need to argue for the abolishment of our tradition. I'm sure that in the weeks and months ahead there will be more news from the Rubashkin family and their disregard for laws and regulations. And now Moshe Rubashkin, the brother of Shalom, has made news in Allentown, Pa where he was sentenced to 16 months in federal prison for leaving hazardous waste in an Allentown textile plant. Still there is no comment from Rabbi Genack or the OU. The crisis is not over - the Rubashkins still own Agriprocessor, Pottsville is a tinderbox, new charges against Rubashkin family and Agriprocessor are being unsealed daily and the availability of kosher meat is getting sparse and expensive. Yet, we have not heard from Rabbi Genack or the OU. While the OU refuses to comment on the Rubashkin family and the ongoing crisis in affordable kosher meat, their website offers congratulations to the new President and their political action website has position papers on everything from school choice/vouchers, to capital punishment and physician assisted suicides. It seem to me that the OU chooses to comment on the issues they want to discuss and refuses to discuss the Rubashkins crisis. You can only wonder what they are hiding. As for my wishes for the OU, if the OU wants to be the ultimate arbiter of Jewish life in America, they need to take responsibility to make sure all the parts function. If the OU wants a role in protecting Jewish traditions in America they have to distance themselves from forces which endanger Jewish life and traditions It is time for Rabbi Genack and the OU to learn from the past and act now to rectify the situation and ensure the availability of affordable kosher meat slaughtered and processed by ethical and moral Jews. I hope we learn from these events and realize that all inaction has consequences. Because of the failures of the past to act we now must thank the US Immigration and Custom Enforcement and the State of Iowa for doing what the Orthodox Rabbis should have done months ago- declare Rubashkin meat treif. If the cow is stolen it may be slaughtered kosher but the meat should be prohibited. Steven Weiss MD, FAAP Getzville, New York
Claudia Chaufan's observation that Israel's own behavior endangers its right to exist is an obvious statement of discrimination. Is there another state in the world that she would question its right to exist? One can criticize Israel's actions, but how does such criticism bring one to question its right to exist? Did all the massive criticism of the American war in Vietnam (or in Iraq) ever bring an American Jew to question the legitimate existence of the USA? Of course not. There is no connection between criticism of war or state policy - and the right of sovereignty or self-determination. Obviously, Claudia Chaufan doubts Israel's right to be, period. The war in Gaza is simply a means to justify a prior ideology.
Ben Burrows has "jumped the gun". Anyone who had any good acquaintaince with Israel's society knew that the disqualification of the two Arab lists would be overturned in the High Court of Justice (in Hebrew "Bagatz"). Indeed, that is what happened this week. Obviously, one can criticize those Israeli politicians who voted for disqualification. After all, they also knew that their ploy would be overturned in the "Bagatz" (and the members of Knesset from the Arab lists also were entirely confident that they would be standing for election next Feb 10). However, criticizing the Israeli democracy as a whole was premature and out of line. Surely, any comparison with Iran was peculiar. One would get the feeling that Mr Burrows is unfamiliar with the reality of Iran or Israel - or both.
When I saw the video of Dr. Ezzeldeen Abu al-Aish, whose three daughters were killed by an Israeli tank, I was ashamed to be a Jew. The only thing that could comfort me is seeing Jewish leaders like Kathleen Peratis and Claudia Chaufan protest -- and work -- against the killings. I agree, many Jews agree, and we should say so. We should protest publicly, and organize, to give the Palestinians the same justice we want for ourselves.
>Yehuda said: > >Did all the massive criticism of the American war in Vietnam (or in Iraq) ever bring an American Jew to question the legitimate existence of the USA? Of course not. Yehuda, when were you born?
Regarding the above comment on the Gaza operation by Israel, it seems that we Jewish Americans need to be ashamed and guilty, for reacting to the Hamas actions since 2001. I wonder what the esteemed reader(s) would say or do if they were victims of such atrocities for years and not to react? It is easy to preach and be sorry from far away and not understand that this is the result of the Hamas own doing.