OPINION:
“U.S. Jews fear collision with expected Israeli government” (Web, Dec. 7) claims that major Jewish organizations have expressed alarm over the right-wing character of the presumptive Israeli government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The story quotes the president of J Street, which is described as a liberal organization.
J Street is really on the far left of the political spectrum and does not reflect the views of many, if not most, American Jews. The article’s writer, Josef Federman, could have included a comment from the Zionist Organization of America to get a broader view of Jewish American opinions. Mr. Federman is also critical of Itamar Ben-Givir, Israel’s presumptive national security minister. Mr. Ben-Givir is wrong if he has labeled Arab leaders in the Knesset terrorists and has wanted to deport them.
However, the Israel Border Police, which Mr. Ben-Givir would oversee, must be given full support to protect Israeli citizens, Jews and Arabs alike, from terrorist attacks. These areas include the so-called occupied territories, land that Israel captured in the Six-Day War in 1967 after it was attacked by Jordan. Israel has proved over and over again since 1967 that it must maintain control of these lands to protect its civilian population. If enough Israeli citizens are unhappy with another Netanyahu coalition government, they will force new elections. They don’t have to wait four years to make a change.
LEE L. SCHOSTAK
Beverly Hills, Michigan
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