Letter to Washington Post

Dear Editor, Why are there no cries of disproportionate force, disproportionate casualties, war crimes or Goldstone reports against Syria where close to 20,000 have been killed? Apparently, those rebukes are reserved only for Israel, a country that has been defending itself from existential threats for its entire 64 years of existence. Thumbing its nose at humanity, the Syrian regime is now dropping bombs on residential apartment buildings in Aleppo. (See “Syrian planes bomb Aleppo”, 7/25/12.) The double standard in the way in which Syria is treated in the press and by the world community compared with the attitude adopted against Israel is astounding. In the most recent wars in Gaza and Lebanon, Israel went to extreme measures to safeguard bystanders, confirmed by the low ratio of bystanders to combatants killed in action. In Syria, however, as reported by The Post, the bystanders are the targets. Still, media sources such as the Washington Post refuse to point out the disparity of treatment of Syria versus Israel or more bravely, take a stand.

Letter to Washington Post

Dear Editor, More than 99% of the Middle East is Muslim, yet Muslim countries refuse to give sanctuary to Muslim refugees from Sudan and Eritrea. So it is up to Israel to bear this burden as well as the criticism (See “Israel confronts a flood of African refugees”, 7/25/12). Meanwhile a free pass is given to Egypt, the nation in which these refugees spent days traversing to get to Israel. Why doesn't the Washington Post ask, instead, why these refugees don’t seek asylum in Egypt, saving days of travel, and settle in a fellow Muslim nation? Why doesn't the Post point out that they don’t go to Egypt because they would be shot, robbed, and raped, if indeed they were allowed to stay? At least in the Jewish state of Israel they will be safe. The nation that comprises less than1% of the Middle East can't be expected to take in all the world's refugees. Israel has welcomed millions from Russia, Ethiopia, and almost every Arab nation. Yet the Post criticizes Israel for not doing more. Why is that? Michael Berenhaus

Letter to NY Times

Dear Editor, The NY Times in their editorial "Wrong time for New Settlements" (7/11/12) slanders Israel stating that it "is determined to continue ruling 2.5 million Palestinians under an unequal system of laws and rights." Doesn't the Times know that the Palestinians in The West Bank are and have been ruled by the Palestinian Authority? And the Palestinians in Gaza are ruled by Hamas. Lastly, as you know, the vast majority of world organizations such as the UN single out Israel time and time again and scarcely make a peep when far greater transgressions have occurred elsewhere - (ex - genocide in Darfur, mass murders in Syria). How can you write about the views of UN-type bodies as impartial evidence when clearly their views are tainted? Please correct these errors.