LETTERS: Palestinians deserving of compassion
To the editor:
In a recent interview with the Review-Journal, I was quoted saying that when it comes to the Israel/Palestine conflict, the media favors Israel (“Vigil honors victims of violence in Israel-Gaza conflict,” July 18 Review-Journal). Merle Roth disagreed with me in a letter to the editor (“Israel and Hamas,” July 28 Review-Journal).
Rather than deal with the topic of media bias (or lack thereof), Mr. Roth repeated the oft-heard canards of Israel being provoked, Hamas violence and more recently Hamas’ refusal to accept a cease-fire brokered by Egypt. Isn’t it odd that despite the fact that the Israel/Palestine conflict has been going on for decades, the American people have yet to see or hear to any extent the horrors of the Israel occupation under which the Palestinians must exist?
Zionist influence is so complete that the focus has been effectively trained not on the causal factors of the occupation, but on the violent reaction to the decades of suffering and oppression. The issue is the occupation. Yet our elected officials have been instructed not to use this description. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie learned this recently when he used the term “occupied territories” at Sheldon Adelson’s Republican Jewish Coalition conference. Gov. Christie was chastised for it and later compliantly apologized.
As for the cease-fire brokered by Egypt, the sole participants in that charade were Israel and Egypt. No Palestine representatives were involved. In fact, they learned about it through the media. The Palestinians insist on Israel ending the occupation and removing the blockade, so that they can live as free people do throughout the world. How dare they desire freedom and aspirations!
According to the spin by major news sources, the Palestinians are expected to apologize for being the victims. We’ve heard time and again of the difficult circumstances in which Israelis must exist. Now, maybe the Review-Journal can step up to the plate and do a factual, thorough and compassionate story on the circumstances in which the Palestinians are forced to live.
ANDY AMID
HENDERSON
Exploiting children
To the editor:
It seems ironic that President Barack Obama assures Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the United States has Israel’s back, and a few weeks later does little to offer any legitimate support against the terrorist attacks orchestrated by Hamas. Unless you count errand boy and Secretary of State John Kerry’s rhetoric, which contributed to a few cease-fires lasting about as long as it takes for the president to deliver a fundraiser speech.
What is most disturbing is Hamas’ strategy of using children as human shields and placing its weaponry in areas where children are present. It is obvious it is being done in an attempt to discredit the Israelis and gain further support from the rest of the Arab world. Exploitation of children seems to be acceptable by various terrorist groups, judging from history of using kids to deliver bombs and the like.
However, is the situation of our southern border that different when it comes to political exploitation of children? These young people are like the babies left in a basket in the church steps, years back, with the hope someone else would accept the responsibility of caring for them. The border crisis has created a perfect opportunity, with mid-term elections approaching, for President Obama to appeal to the Hispanic vote and aid his party’s stance.
Despite statements from Sen. Harry Reid about our border security, we should take steps to make illegal entry harder to achieve. From a humanitarian standpoint, just look realistically at why they are here. They are not political refugees fearing for their lives. They were sent here largely because their parents abandoned them, possibly for economic reasons. The reason why they weren’t sent to other countries in South America, where they could share a similar culture, is because those countries would turn the buses around and send them back home.
But these people know the United States is easy to enter and blend into, and soon learn the ropes to work the entitlements. Like good fences make good neighbors, so do effective borders. Do you believe the millions of dollars already committed to illegal immigrants will solve the problem? More laws are not the answer when they are selectively enforced.
It is disgusting to see children being played like pawns, whether they are put in front of a weapons cache or used as bait for a political agenda.
ROBERT LATCHFORD
HENDERSON
Coverage kudos
To the editor:
I just want to let you know that the job Mike Blasky did in reporting about the home invasion was fabulous (“Desperate attackers leave trail of sadness,” Sunday Review-Journal). Never before have I seen such a well-written article in the Review-Journal. His writing put the reader right at the scene. He deserves a raise.
BOB RANFONE
LAS VEGAS
