Letters to the Editor, November 29, 2023: Major surgery

Major surgery

In “The failure of US Jewish leadership” (November 27), Martin Oliner succinctly details the issues within multi-levels of American society that created the backlash of anti-Jewish, anti-Israel animosity, which has also manifested itself in many European countries since October 7.

Our PR certainly requires major surgery although that in itself is unlikely to quell the most vociferous hate-mongering.  A cry heard echoing since the 1940s was “never again.” Although we attempted to megaphone this to stop the Holocaust from becoming just a footnote in World War II history, unfortunately it has happened again. Critically and most definitely here in Israel, our heads of government have let their personal biases and overinflated egos supersede whatever leadership skills and love of the country that they possessed.

However, this is 2023 and with a country and strong nation of our own, it is paramount for all of us to stand up and be counted. To paraphrase Hillel: If we are not for ourselves, who will be for us?

STEPHEN VISHNICK

Tel Aviv

Martin Oliner’s article should not shift attention from the prime responsibility of Prime Minister Netanyahu and his extremist government for the very difficult situation in which Israel and Jews worldwide now find themselves. It was not US Jewish leaders who focused our nation’s attention away from security issues to efforts to reduce the power of our judiciary system; who ignored warnings from military leaders about the weakening of our military preparedness due to governmental priorities; who shifted IDF divisions from the Gaza area to Judea and Samaria.

There is always more that could be done, but US Jewish leaders have consistently strongly supported Israel and spoken out vigorously against antisemitism. 

They also did a marvelous job in organizing and carrying out the recent record-breaking demonstration in support of Israel and against antisemitism in the US capital.

RICHARD H. SCHWARTZ

Shoresh

Undue influence

I agree wholeheartedly with everything JJ Sussman writes in “Together at last?” (November 27). However, I would like to add one more item for consideration – that Israel’s electoral system, proportional representation, which tends to give small parties undue influence in the Knesset, is a factor that contributed to the disunity which prevailed during the attempted judicial reform.

Israel has been governed for three decades by fragile coalitions, each of which held barely more than the minimum 61 seats of parliament needed to form the government, forcing the Knesset to go to new elections if a mere handful of MKs chose to move to the opposition.

This works against MKs cooperating to build a broad consensus of the many disparate sectors within Israeli society. What is needed is an effort to have fewer, more stable parties, which will be around long enough for people to hold them accountable in regard to keeping the promises made at election time. Parties should be required to publish their platforms and engage in public debates.

If polls conducted after each debate indicate, three or four times, that a party is unlikely to reach the election threshold, that party should be required to sit out the current election, but would be able to stand for election again after the elected Knesset completed its term, hopefully after having served its nominal four years.

TOBY F. BLOCK

Atlanta

Emily Hand’s abduction

“What is up with Ireland?” (editorial, November 27) took Ireland’s Prime Minister Leo Varadkar to task for a social media post in his name, regarding the release of nine-year-old Israeli/Irish hostage Emily Hand. The editorial board jumped on the bandwagon of those excoriating Varadkar for referring to Hand as merely “lost.”

It seems that the editors may not have read the front page story by Tovah Lazaroff (“Israel summons Irish envoy after PM calls Gaza hostage ‘lost’ child”), which cites from the full text of Varadkar’s statement where he’s clear about Hand’s abduction and exhibits compassion for the family. There’s a case to be made regarding Ireland’s posture toward Israel, but this isn’t the smoking gun it’s being cast as, not close.

While I expect politicians and the denizens of X (formerly Twitter), who aren’t really capable of thinking beyond 240 characters, to create a narrative to fit their biases based on a tweet, I hold The Jerusalem Post and its editors to a higher standard. 

MICHAEL LIPKIN

Beit Shemesh

A shocking promotion of hate

Regarding “PM: Israel didn’t enter Gaza to hand it over to PA” (November 19), it is good that the solo emphasis on defeating Hamas was finally expanded to mention PA governance, with Netanyahu adding that the PA educates its children to hate Jews.

Specifics on education are extremely important. One key lies in the UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees) schools in Gaza, where half a million students from grades 1-12 attend school, and half are enrolled in UNRWA schools.

The Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-se) has been monitoring and analyzing education worldwide since 1998. Its stated aim is to ensure that education complies with international standards of peace, tolerance, and non-violence, as derived from UNESCO declarations and resolutions. 

A joint report by IMPACT-se and United Nations Watch shed light on 47 new cases of incitement to hate and violence by UNRWA teachers and schools, in clear violation of the agency’s policies. This report revealed a disturbing pattern of calling for the murder of Jews, glorifying terrorism, and inciting antisemitism within UNRWA’s education system under the Palestinian Authority.

Since 2016, the evidence shows a shocking promotion of hate among young children and a deterioration in content, falling far short of UNESCO standards.

Some examples included the removal of content discussing peace agreements, negotiations, and the two-state solution, as well as the encouragement of violence, and demonization of Israel across all grades and subjects, even infiltrating math and science, as well as removing Israel from a regional map.

Norway’s decision to cut funding over textbook incitement in December 2020 was met with a defiant response from PA Prime Minister Shtayyeh, who declared that the “curriculum will not be surrendered.” 

This resistance to reforming the curriculum, even in exchange for the release of frozen EU funds, was reiterated by PA Foreign Minister al-Maliki in March 2022.

It is crucial to shed light on the texts used by the Palestinian Authority as well as Hamas. International attention must address the root causes of conflict in the region as anti-Israel activity and antisemitism are spreading.UNRWA’s role in perpetuating hatred and violence through education must be scrutinized. Once Hamas is eliminated, efforts to promote peace and tolerance should be prioritized for the sake of a more stable future for all involved, starting with proper textbooks in schools. 

SHARON ALTSHUL

Jerusalem

My entire life

Regarding “Giving thanks, even in the darkness” (November 24): I am a longtime Jerusalem Post subscriber. I just want to say to Avi Mayer, editor-in-chief, that your column this past week was one of the best articles I have read in my entire life.

Taking into account that I am 94 years old, that says quite a bit. My wife Ruth, 92, said the same about your article.

Therefore, it is with a warm heart that we both want to say: Thank you so much!

SHLOMO BERLINGER

Jerusalem