One can support Israel but at the same time be horrified at the gross disproportionality of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing government’s response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 terrorist attacks, as well as the West Bank settler killings of Palestinians and destruction of their land.
President Joe Biden’s administration has done little to rein in the Israeli government’s killing of thousands of civilians in Gaza other than to issue repeated “tsk-tsks.” The red lines that Vice President Kamala Harris stated recently are a step in the right direction.
If and when Israel breaks through them, let’s see if the U.S. does anything significant to punish Netanyahu and his extremist government.
— Edwin W. Meyer, Chicago
As I watch the terrible situation in Gaza unfold, I am at a loss to understand the virtually one-sided conversation placing the onus upon Israel to enact a permanent cease-fire. Of course, I decry the loss of innocent lives as the war rages, but I don’t understand why Israel, alone, seems to bear total responsibility in this regard.
Where are the calls for Hamas to surrender in a war that it cannot conceivably win? Were Hamas to surrender, the carnage would cease. Following the World War II bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Japanese surrendered, thus sparing the lives of more innocent civilians. Hamas apparently doesn’t care about its people, as indicated by its actions on Oct. 7, which brought the inevitable response by Israel and its continued disregard for its citizens as the war continues.
Where is the world’s outrage that Hamas took, and continues to hold, innocent people as hostages? It could, and should, return these hostages immediately, and the rest of the world should demand it. But everyone seems to be OK with trading hostages for prisoners and negotiating with terrorists, which will only lead to more of the same.
Hamas has, on multiple occasions, rejected the implementation of a two-state solution. It has one goal — the destruction of the Jewish state. Even as I write this letter, it continues to fire missiles into Israel, but I hear nothing condemning this action. Hamas has scored a major victory as much of the world’s sentiment turns against Israel. As long as Hamas continues to win the war of minds, it will continue its war of weaponry.
So, what is Israel supposed to do? Forget the barbaric attack on its citizens on Oct. 7 and simply let bygones be bygones? Conduct a ground assault in which Hamas, ensconced in an urban environment with underground tunnels, would have a decided advantage? Why should Israel be forced to place its people, its military, in a more dangerous situation?
And what of the Palestinian innocents? Cannot they rise up and let Hamas know that enough is enough? Or, most likely, are they, too, essentially hostage to a group, whose ideology may not match their own? Perhaps the elimination of Hamas will ultimately be beneficial to both Israel and Gaza.
It’s just a shame that innocent lives will be lost in reaching this conclusion to the war.
— David Grossman, Chicago
Christopher Richardson’s well-thought-out and clearly written history lesson should be sent to every member of Congress, as well as to each state’s legislature (“Prohibition has lessons for the migrant crisis,” Dec. 2).
Sending it to all clerics wouldn’t be a bad idea either, in the hope they’d share it with their congregants.
Unfortunately, I fear his cogent lesson will fall upon deaf ears in today’s political climate.
Democrats’ fear of being labeled “soft” on immigration by Republicans, combined with the cynical use of ginned-up “open immigration” fears by most Republican supporters, guarantees that this sore on our body politic will remain unhealed.
Sadly, another more topical history lesson is happening right now in Israel. Those in power refused to see that ignoring a major issue didn’t bode well for their country, long term. Similarly, history has also proved many times over that just building a wall never solves a long-term problem, such as illegal immigration.
The fact that we still haven’t solved the much simpler issue of the Dreamers doesn’t provide much confidence for a positive resolution on any future debate regarding legal immigration.
So I ask the very smart Richardson: What can you tell us about the political Gordian knot we find ourselves wrestling with? Will you or someone else be our Alexander the Great and cut that knot?
— Thomas L. Green, Highland Park
I agree with the editorial “Brighton Park tent site is too much of a problem. Pritzker should kill plan.” (Dec. 4). With all the controversy surrounding the construction of a tent camp on toxic land, I don’t understand why other solutions aren’t being considered.
At the height of the pandemic, hospitals ran out of space and were unable to accommodate people with COVID-19. The city and state together set up hundreds of beds at McCormick Place. Why can’t this be done for migrants? They would immediately have a roof over their heads with heat and running water, and the city could use its crew to set up beds, kitchens, play areas and other facilities that are necessary. I realize that McCormick Place is the site for many conventions, which bring in a lot of revenue to the city. However, the size of this building makes it able to accommodate everyone.
Another possibility for accommodating migrant families is to house them in some of the vacant office buildings in downtown Chicago. Office space could be converted into living quarters that would provide the same basic amenities, as stated above.
Mayor Brandon Johnson must find solutions better than the ones now being offered.
— Vicki Joseph, Chicago
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