Letters
Yes, J Street betrayed Israel
I would like to respond to the feedback received from my column on “J Street’s Betrayal of Israel.”
David Abraham characterizes my attack as “embodied these days by Ministers Ben Gvir and Smotrich.” As I wrote in my column (November 29), condemnation of both Bernie Sanders’ resolution and the ICC judgment was issued by all elements of the political spectrum including Yair Lapid and Benny Ganz. President Herzog, formerly head of the left-leaning Labor party, also joined in the condemnations. I have also been critical of the far-right in previous columns and reject their annexationist impulse. My stance has nothing to do with the so-called far right.
The notion that only providing Israel with defensive weapons is sufficient has been disproven by the acceptance of a ceasefire by Hizballah and the Iranians because of Israel’s offensive successes in the battlefield.
Regarding “using starvation as a tool of war,” aside from the evidence of the ample supplies provided by the Israelis and looting by Hamas and armed gangs, the State Department gave the green light for providing Israel with more offensive weapons after its examination of the humanitarian situation on the ground.
I did not condemn the Biden Administration of betraying Israel as Mark Lurinsky wrote. Only J Street and its supporters in the Senate. He states I did not offer any proof that Israel could have finished the war sooner if not “handcuffed” by the Biden Administration. I quoted the nation’s preeminent expert on urban warfare, John Spenser, to that effect. This same “slow-walking” of needed offensive weapons in a timely manner has also jeopardized Ukrainian advances against the Russians. This is from many military analysts.
Fortunately, the overwhelming majority of senators, including Democrats, voted against these misguided resolutions and followed the Biden Administration’s guidance. Most of them and the administration also condemned the ICC’s ruling.
Going against the will of Israel’s political leadership from both the left and right, the Biden administration, the Senate and the great majority of Jewish organizations, J Street has marginalized its pro-Israel bona fides by its actions when Israel was facing an existential threat. I hope it will learn from these damaging mistakes.
Max L Kleinman
Fairfield
More about J Street
After reading J Street Mark Lurinsky’s response (Letters, December 6) to Max Kleinman’s opinion column, it is no wonder this group is so out of touch and totally irrelevant. His comments are nothing more than parroting the likes of CNN and other anti-Israel media platforms. Had I closed my eyes, I would have thought I was reading Al Jazeera. None of his arguments hold water.
He states the following. “…without any proof, that the Israeli government could have achieved total victory…if our country hadn’t “handcuffed” Israel from entering Gaza and the densely populated city of Rafah”. This is a total fabrication. I spoke with IDF soldiers and high-ranking officers and was told that the original plan was to take Rafah and its surroundings from the get-go but was forced by the Biden administration, not to.
Lurinsky states, “…confirms that endless warfare in the enclave is serving the prime minister’s political objectives…” Seriously? Does the endless killing of our precious IDF soldiers serve BiBi’s political ambitions? How shallow thinking is that? Another farfetched conspiracy theory?
The author continues, “In claiming that the Netanyahu government has not hindered humanitarian relief to Gaza civilians, Kleinman flies in the face of well-documented facts”. Says who? The Hamas Food Authority? CNN? The Gazans have more food than most African nations and surpluses are either stolen by Hamas or sold on black-markets. So much for your well-documented facts.
The author’s most egregious statement: Benjamin Netanyahu’s approach to the Gaza war with no endgame may very well place more Israeli lives in danger…” No endgame? Imagine, as the American, English, and Canadian soldiers were storming the beaches of Normandy, a reporter would approach Generals Eisenhower and Montgomery and ask, what’s the endgame? The endgame is when the enemy is vanquished and not a moment before.
My advice to J Street: don’t let your emotions get in the way of facts. You just might benefit.
Herbert Burack
Teaneck
Thank you, Dr. Sharon-Sagie
I just wanted to say kol hakavod to you for your poignant and incredibly powerful article on Dr. Sharon-Sagie (December 6).
In truth, I actually had to read it in two sittings because it was so disturbing in its graphic detail that I needed a breather and some time to process the information. Then I picked it up again in the morning after being fortified by my coffee, and finished it.
You fully painted a picture of a strong, smart, resilient, hero of October 7th and its aftermath.
You showed another side of the story, the side of the heroes who were there to pick up the pieces, literally and figuratively.
The trauma of October 7th affected so many. But it was also a snapshot of an outstanding healthcare professional who found the strength she needed to ascertain and give closure to those who were so horrifically murdered on that terrible day.
And there’s the emotional/mental price Dr. Sharon-Sagie and many like her continue to pay, and the support they need to keep going.
Esther Kook
Teaneck
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