This U.S. election’s winner is Bibi Netanyahu
Dartmouth, Mass.: If the United States was not engaged and distracted by a presidential race that truly is an existential competition, Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing coalition would have ended this barbaric war on Gaza many months ago. Democratic and Republican politicians are terrified to publicly criticize — or more importantly, to withdraw military support from Israel. The fear is that if either party proposes a meaningful disengagement from Israel, they will lose the presidential election or lose the majority in the Senate or the House.
It’s too far along in the campaign season to take a meaningful stand that might impact the outcome of the elections. And Netanyahu, a keen observer and manipulator of American politicians, is fully aware that his obstinacy and self-serving intransigence in not ceasing this murderous war upon innocent civilians can continue at least until after the November election. Otherwise ethical legislators who would normally have expressed outrage about Israel’s unjustified and completely disproportionate response to the brutal attack by Hamas are only tepidly calling for a ceasefire and release of hostages. They are undoubtedly rationalizing their muted criticism or silence by explaining that the greater good for America is not to cede the election to the opposing party by causing this issue to become a deciding factor in the election.
The significance of this American election can’t be overstated, but the resultant impact of not taking a stand that will bring about an end to this war will have far more negative consequences for Jews, Muslims and Israelis who are opposed to Netanyahu in the coming years. And it will be a stain on American history. Betty Ussach
Fight on
Clearwater, Fla.: People need to stop blaming Israel for the sins of Hamas. The terrorist group has no respect for human life, not even the Palestinian civilians who they hide behind. Hamas took great delight in killing the six hostages in cold blood. Humans are nothing but bargaining chips to them and are easily discarded. Their aim is to pressure Israel and the United States. Sadly, it is working. Hamas is winning support as anti-Israel protests continue at colleges, universities and elsewhere in the U.S and antisemitism is on the rise. Even Israelis are protesting and putting pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the release of the remaining hostages. Nevertheless, Israel must continue its war against Hamas. If Israel doesn’t destroy it, Hamas will destroy Israel. I shudder to think what will happen if Netanyahu gives in. You can’t make deals with the devil. JoAnn Lee Frank
Far-fetched skepticism
Manhattan: To Voicer Eugene Rodriguez: Your claim that Israeli soldiers killed six Israeli hostages and blamed Hamas is outrageous enough, but what I found even more astonishing was the fact that The News actually printed your letter. M. Coluccio
Migrant progeny
Manhattan: To Voicer John Esposito, who no longer wants the census: Then how would we all know you come from a large wave of immigrants who came here between 1880 and 1920? Your family has most likely been here less than 100 years. The border you speak of was put in place to keep out people indigenous to this continent for millennia. You have the gall to behave as if Europeans are the only ones who should have exclusive access to the entire continent. The people you seek to block come from a heritage and culture that existed while we (yes, we, “paisan”) were still waiting for someone to bring us a fork. They were doing astrology, math, chemistry and building before the Espositos and Fallanis could manage cutlery. They are native to this continent. We are the foreigners. So, maybe keep those silly thoughts about the census to yourself. T.S. Fallani
Unpunished undocumented
Kew Gardens: As for crime by migrants, given the unbridled migration debacle created under the Biden administration along with the sanctuary-city welcome by Mayor Adams, we should expect to reap what we sow. Migrant crime will continue unabated until other steps are taken to stop it. Migrants committing crimes should be subject to deportation. When police were attacked earlier this year, Gov. Hochul called for their deportation. Instead, they were processed in the Manhattan court system, released on bail, then they flipped a finger at us all and disappeared. Moreover, the city of New York does not cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who would expeditiously deport them. Also interesting to note is that Kamala Harris once compared ICE to the KKK. For migrant crime, we can expect more of the same. Phil Serpico
Foreign tastes
New Haven, Conn.: Donald Trump has said immigrants are poisoning the blood of Americans, but most of his wives have been immigrants. Perhaps someone could find out how many abortions he has paid for to protect the blood of Americans. Charlie Fromm
Misinformed
Staten Island: To Voicer Wanda Lucci: It has long been debunked that President Trump asked for troops to aid in protecting the Capitol and that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi denied that request. The speaker has no jurisdiction over any security element of the Capitol and has no right to refuse any police or military action enforced by the Capitol Police, active military or National Guard. This falsehood was just another in a series of lies told by Trump to try and distance himself from the disgraceful insurrection he started and then refused to stop. I recommend seeking different news sources that have no qualm in reporting the ex-president’s horrific, inexcusable actions. Last week, we had the ex-president spreading sexist lies about Kamala Harris for political gain, the desecration at Arlington National Cemetery, then denigrating the staff member’s reputation because Trump and his staff are incapable of admitting fault or apologizing. John Conry
Cause and deflect
Larchmont, N.Y.: To Voicer Wanda Lucci: Giving Trump credit for supposedly ordering more police protection on Jan. 6 is like giving an arsonist credit for calling the fire department after lighting a fire! Steve Michaud
Check your work
Bayside: In your “Baker Street Puzzle” appearing in your Aug. 11 edition, the problem given was to determine how many 5-year-olds and how many young women were going to attend a lecture by Dr. Watson on female illnesses. The hints given were that a total of 44 were scheduled to attend, and their collective age added up to 400. The answer the paper gave was 32 5-year-olds and 12 22-year-olds, which would have their total age at 424, not 400. However, if the young women were listed as 20 rather than 22, it would have worked out. P.S.: Even the great Sherlock Holmes is entitled to one mistake. Howie Horn
RIP
Hallandale Beach, Fla.: My condolences to the family, colleagues and fans of the late, great James Darren. From Moondoggie to Vic Fontaine and every character he played in between, he made every one of them memorable. Paul Bacon
Tough scenario
Sunnyside: I was sorry to read that Peyman Bahadoran was left paralyzed due to an incident with police officers (“City to pay $12M in shoot by cops,” Sept. 2). However, I think that everyone should consider what the officers went through that night. They were responding to a report of an emotionally disturbed man with a knife and when they arrived at the scene, he waved the knife toward Officer Melissa Brown while walking toward her. He then turned to Officer Jillian Suarez (who lost her father in the 9/11 attack) and shoved her. He then lunged at Suarez and a third officer, Lt. Luis Machado. And, although the claim that he then put down the knife may be true, the officers had good reason to believe he would pick it up again. Therefore, nothing that happened on that tragic night was the officers’ fault. John Francis Fox
Moving the goalposts
New Hyde Park, L.I.: 1968 revisited. The last I looked, there were only a total of eight players hitting at least .300 in the entire major league. In 1968 at one point, Carl Yastrzemski led the American League when he was batting under .300 (he eventually hit .301 for the season). Following that season, the commissioner lowered the pitching mound by 5 inches to give hitters a break. Query: Will the powers that be do something similar before next season begins? John Macklin