J.Post January 19: What 'victories'?

Unassailable evidence of a chronic dearth of oxygen in Washington is provided by President Barack Obama’s description of recent engagements with Iran as “diplomatic victories” (“US slaps ballistic missile penalties on Iran following massive sanctions lift,” January 18).

This anti-rational and utterly unbelievable portrayal of events leaves us no choice other than to attribute it to the malign influence of atmospheric conditions. Surely, sound reasoning would view these events not as signs of victories, but as a continuing chain of shameful defeats.

One has every right to expect from a country being granted billions of dollars in sanctions relief along with full acceptance into the international diplomatic community that it dare not risk such extremely valuable prizes only a week before the agreement goes into effect. But instead of being careful, Iran does not hesitate to seize American sailors and then force the US into dealing for their release.

A genuine victory by the US could be claimed only if Iran politely informed it of the trespass of its ships and just as politely suggested that the vessels leave their territorial waters. Iran is spitting in America’s face, and America’s president insists on calling it rain.

Unfortunately, this is consistent with the whole tone of appeasement that the US has adopted toward Iran, and therefore cannot accommodate any claims by Washington of victories. It does, however, exponentially increase the anxiety level of many countries, because the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism has now been unleashed with increased strength and substance.

ZEV CHAMUDOT
Petach Tikvah

The end of the Yazidis

Sir, - The one thing that we can be certain of concerning the Yazidis is that they are destined for annihilation. They are a people living in northern Iraq whose religion is an amalgam of Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and Islam. They have suffered persecution for centuries, and of late have become the target of an extremist group of Muslim fanatics known as ISIS, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, who are determined to wipe them out if they do not choose to convert to the true Islam. In the ISIS depraved program for ruling the world and forcibly converting it to a Sharia-ruled Islam, there is no room for contamination by anyone of non-pure Islamic faith.

In their maniacal zealotry, ISIS have slaughtered many hundreds of Yazidis by means of revived dormant cruelties: burying alive hundreds of children, beheading and butchering menfolk, and raping and enslaving countless women.

What is the Yazidis crime? That they are different. What is the crime of the enlightened world? That they let it happen.

ZEV CHAMUDOT

Petach Tikva

[Image credit: Chris de Bruyn]

Encourage Israeli Entrepreneurship ... In Israel!

Sir, - Idan Ofer, we are informed, has donated $40 million to the London Business School. It is of course his unquestionable right to donate his money to whatever philanthropic endeavor he chooses. Where I do feel there is room for serious questioning, however, is the reasoning provided by Ofer to justify his choice for the beneficiary of his largess. He tells us it's to "ensure that the next generation of Israeli entrepreneurs is equipped to cope with the challenges of globalization."

I beg forgiveness for my obtuseness, but I fail to understand how the gift to that institution will accomplish that admirable goal. What will have changed for Israelis after this gift that was not present before? The far more important consideration is whether a gift of this size -- if it were given to any one of Israel's own institutions of higher learning -- would not have achieved the stated goal a lot more directly. Surely an endowment of a scholarship program in Israel for gifted Israelis would be a most meaningful way to encourage future entrepreneurs.

Ironically, on the same day that news of Idan's gift was published in the Post there also appeared the news on the Front page that the Technion received a $130m grant for a joint program with a leading Chinese university. This appears to be a more likely way to achieve the understanding of globalization.

ZEV CHAMUDOT

Petach Tikva

[Image credit: 401kcalculator.org]

Obama on Syria: Now is the Time, But Let's Wait

Sir, - Obama declares, 'Now is the time to show the world that America keeps its commitments.' It is really very difficult for an intelligent reader to take this declaration with any degree of seriousness. As a matter of fact, despite the learned commentaries and analyses that fill the media and sometimes struggle to inject some credibility into the American president's statement, sadly to say it nevertheless remains totally unconvincing!

Why? It is almost impossible to reconcile a 'serious commitment' with waiting for the leisurely return of Congress, its deliberations, and the real possibility (as in the British parliament) of its refusal. The time frame offered by Obama for the gaining of congressional approval may very well encompass the murder of thousands of additional Syrians.

If and when the Commander in Chief of U.S. forces does take action, whom and what will be the targets? Surely any meaningful arms, personnel, or supply depots would have been emptied or moved thanks to the early warnings and kindly explanations about the acutely limited interest of the U.S. in causing a regime change or of destroying chemical storehouses.

Anyone who desires that his threats and actions have some measure of meaning must learn the basic lesson of effective combat: Shoot and Don't Talk!!!

ZEV CHAMUDOT
Petach Tikvah

[Video credit: The White House]

Islamic Culture of Death Goes Global

Sir - The horrendous headlines that are distributed throughout Sunday's paper confront the intelligent reader with at least two important issues of concern that are deserving of serious attention. Starting on the front page we read, "Bombs kill 42 outside Sunni mosques in Tripoli," and we are further informed, "Suicide bomber targets Baghdad cafe, killing 25," and still further we learn, "Nigerian Islamists kill 44 in northeast." Add to the above the massacre of civilians in Syria and the hundreds of dead in the turmoil in Egypt we are provided unfortunately with conclusive testimony that Islam has been taken captive by a culture of death.

1) The continued heroization of terrorists and the P.A's ongoing incitement to hatred through its schools and mosques would seem to clearly locate them well within the destructive parameters of that culture. Does it make any sense to conduct negotiations with those who do not ascribe any value to the fundamental belief in the sanctity of human life?

2) How can we explain the extraordinary fact of the failure of Prime Minister Erdogan to blame Israel for the murderous bombs described above? Was he, in violation of Sharia law, inebriated? Was he institutionalized for paranoia? Is he possibly doing Tshuva? It is most important for the geo-political alignments in this area to know the answers.

ZEV CHAMUDOT
Petach Tikva

[Image credit: Religious Freedom Coalition]

J.Post June 14: What Would Moses Say to Haredi Protesters?

Sir, – The challenging retort of Moses to the tribes of Reuben and Gad in regard to their request to settle on the east of the Jordan while the remaining tribes were to be engaged in the battles necessitated by their entrance into the promised land, should serve as a most appropriate rejoinder to those haredim in New York who were protesting against Israel’s drafting of yeshiva students for military service (“Thousands of haredim in lower Manhattan protest IDF draft,” June 11).

“Shall your brothers go out to war while you sit here?” (Numbers 32).

 Is there a need for any more to be said?

ZEV CHAMUDOT
Petah Tikva 

J.Post May 29: Responding to London Terrorism

 Sir, – “British PM urges against ‘knee-Jerk’ response to terror after attacks on UK mosques,” (May 24) appeared as a headline in The Jerusalem Post. I would like to suggest that the prime minister’s statement reflects an even more harmful knee-jerk reaction to the terrorist massacre that took place on the streets of London.

Of course, burning down mosques is not the appropriate response to the atrocity, and therefore the PM urges “restraint,” but by doing so he helps divert attention from the despicable barbarous act of attempted decapitation that deserves the full focus of attention.

We owe a debt of gratitude to Seth Frantzman’s article “Nigeria: Why Islamism succeeds, in miniature,”( Terra Incognita, Comment and Features, May 22) wherein with admirable boldness and exemplary lucidity he explicitly stresses that “the resort to compromises merely feeds the illusion that terrorism is part of a legitimate ‘conflict with the state.’ It isn’t. The terrorist goal is mass killing of civilians; its conflict is with humanity.”

The prescient accuracy of Frantzman’s words was dramatically demonstrated with the repulsive terrorism carried out in broad daylight in London [where two converts to Islam stabbed and then decapitated a British soldier. Despite their shouts of "Allahu akbar" and their vowing to never stop fighting in His cause which left not even the slightest doubt that this was a deliberate, murderous, and heartless act of "pure" terrorism, it is important to note that the police shot, but did not kill, the two assailants].

It becomes increasingly obvious that neither dialogue or restraint can serve as a proper or effective response to unadulterated barbarism. Terrorism, says Frantzman must be confronted with the most “disproportionate force” possible and “prisoners should only be released in coffins.”

ZEV CHAMUDOT
Petah Tikva

[Image credit: John Pannell]

Red Line: Obama on Syria's Chemical Weapons

Sir, - I was rather shocked to read the headline of the report by Matt Spetalnick "Obama warns Syria's Assad that use of chemical weapons a 'red line'." The statement expressed in the headline is a completely shameful admission of the moral bankruptcy of America's foreign policy under Obama's presidency.

While it is important to warn Syria against the use of weapons of mass destruction, any intelligent reader immediately understands what constitutes a 'red line' for the American president. It is quite clear that the daily atrocities and the massacre of thousands of civilians by a well armed and well trained army do not fall within the parameters of his urgent concerns.

It also must be clearly understood, that by positioning his red line only at the introduction of unconventional weapons, Obama gives a green light to Assad continue unabated with his ongoing abominations.

ZEV CHAMUDOT
Petach Tikva

[Video credit: Telegraph TV]

J.Post August 13: Call for Action

Sir, – Although I sometimes disagree with some of the activities and causes that Shmuley Boteach chooses to identify with, I believe that his article, "Why I'm travelling to Rwanda" (Comment and Features, August 8) deserves the serious attention of all people of conscience.

Boteach does not only call on us to remember the horrible butchery that took place in Rwanda in 1994 when hundreds of thousands of the Tutsi tribe were literally machete hacked to death by the Hutus, he makes us aware that most nations of the world totally ignored the brutal massacres and did nothing at all to try to prevent their taking place. He specifically accuses the Clinton administration in the United States of perfidious behavior when it deliberately frustrated any attempts by the UN to interfere.

His attention to the genocide in Rwanda, however, is to alert us to the fact that there are similar atrocities taking place today, and once again the enlightened world permits itself to effectively do nothing. Boteach calls for real efforts on the political and military fronts to halt the daily slaughter by the well armed and trained Syrian army of hundreds of unarmed civilians.

We in Israel have the right to ask why the oft repeated call by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for the annihilation of Israel is not in itself sufficient grounds for the expulsion of Iran from the community of nations.

Must we really wait for the bomb to drop?

ZEV CHAMUDOT

Petah Tikva

[Image credit: Neil Palmer]

Profound Differences: Colorado & Bulgaria Attacks

Sir, - Although I appreciated some of the sentiment, I feel that Gil Troy did a disservice with his article concerning the linked "summertime mourning" of Israelis and Americans. Troy describes acts of genuine heroism and feelings of deep sorrow over the loss of innocent human lives, that were evident both at the Colorado theater murders and those that took place in Bulgaria. I believe, however, that there are profound differences between the two events, and that it is imperative to distinguish between them.

Burgas Airport

The rampage in the theater was clearly the work of a deranged armed individual, who randomly shot at whomever was unfortunate to be in his sights, while having no prior animus towards them. The bomb that was exploded at Burgas however, was the work of an agent of state terrorism that deliberately chose a group of Israelis to be the target of his atrocity. The first was the act of a psychopath that acted alone and who was able with ease to heavily arm himself. The killing of the Israelis was carried out by a terrorist who underwent training in bomb preparation and who enjoyed the help of an international terror network designed to strike another murderous blow against the Zionist entity.

Aurora Century 16 theater

The acts in the United States were completely senseless and reflect on an ongoing pathology in American society. Terrorist attacks against Israelis are purposeful acts motivated by Jew-hatred and of the inabilty to accept the existence of a Jewish State. What happened in the U.S. is unfortunate and tragic and must be addressed by the proper governmental, social, and psychological experts. The threat against Israel originates with the international dark forces of religious and political fanaticism and is a distressingly existential one.

ZEV CHAMUDOT
Petach Tikva

[Image credit: Wikimedia users Christian Rasmussen; Algr]

J.Post June 28: Blessed Headlines

Sir, – Despite the continued Israel-bashing from abroad as well as from our own midst, we have every right to be heartened and proud about two projects that were reported in the June 26 Jerusalem Post. Both describe assiduous scientific and creative world-leading achievements that will be of great benefit to mankind.

The first, on Page 3, is “Hadassah experts produce human embryonic stem cell lines without animal contamination.”

These stem cell lines can eventually be used to treat a wide range of degenerative diseases, such as AMD, type 1 diabetes, heart failure and Parkinson’s by serving as an infinite source of replacement.

The second article, on Page 7, is “New online network to link Israeli agricultural experts, farmers in India.” This network will provide instant contact and allow the launch of centers of agricultural excellence in India, thus enhancing that nation’s food production for its vast population.

Let these continue to be the headlines we are blessed with.

ZEV CHAMUDOT 

Petah Tikva

An Appeal for Help: Trenton Out of Toilet Paper

Sir, - Although this is probably important, even of vital importance, to the citizens of Trenton, I found it quite difficult to comprehend the appearance in Thursday's paper of the article under the banner "Trenton New Jersey, may restock toilet paper". Of course the fact that you stress that Trenton is the capital of the third wealthiest U.S. state may add a dimension of gravity to this sordid item of information.

Taking into account that the article appeared exactly one week after Purim, which describes the miraculous transformation of a threatened calamity into a time of joy, I suspect that the beleaguered people of Trenton were, via the good offices of your paper, issuing an appeal for help.

I firmly believe, that just as we sent Israeli teams to disaster areas like Turkey, Haiti, and Japan, we can afford to do no less for the unfortunates of Trenton.

I am aware, however, that J Street is urging that no help be extended until sanctions have been given sufficient time to work.

ZEV CHAMUDOT
Petach Tikva

Them and Us: Israeli Reaction to Killing of Innocents

Sir, - It was with deep dismay, and almost disbelief, to have read page nine of the March 12, Jerusalem Post. Placed side by side, are stories of the butchery and massacre of innocent civilians. The headlines read as follows: 'Western forces in Afghanistan kill 16 civilians, including children', ' 13 dead in Pakistan funeral blast', 'Tears fill Congo mass funeral', 'Reprisal attacks follow suicide bombing at Nigerian church.'

Pure hatred, malice, and bigotry appear to be the underlying motive for all of these unprovoked atrocities. Compare the above with the tone of regret on the front page of that date, where we read: '40 projectiles hit Israel, '12 year-old killed in Gaza air strike,' 'Gantz cancels trip to U.S.' This I submit, clearly distinguishes our behavior, even in times of war, from that of those who wantonly shed the blood of others.

ZEV CHAMUDOT

Petach Tikva

J.Post December 1: Lessons From Mumbai Attack

Sir, - With our hearts shattered by the shock of the Islamist terrorist atrocities in Mumbai, I was profoundly dismayed to read 'Israeli officials say India mishandled hostage situation' (November 28). Instead of such gratuitous criticism, the Israeli response should be a sharing of the pain and outrage at this horrible and senseless slaughter.

The world, and Israel in particular, must absorb this clear lesson: Demonic and implacable Islamist terrorism is motivated by a culture of death which, if not eliminated, will go on to threaten all of civilization.

ZEV CHAMUDOT
Petah Tikva