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]

Turkish Claims: Ben-Meir Tells Israel to Apologize

Sir, - Alon Ben-Meir is cited in your editorial as recommending that Israel apologize to Turkey about the Mavi Marmara affair. We are informed that he made this recommendation in an op-ed that appeared in a Turkish daily newspaper and that he claimed that "Turkey has repeatedly reaffirmed that once Israel apologizes, Ankara will resume full diplomatic relations."

However, both through continuous belligerent rhetoric and anti-Israel diplomacy, Turkish behavior clearly indicates that Ben-Meir's claims lack validity, are indeed far removed from reality, and that he seems to be alone in hearing the claimed Turkish pledges concerning a restoration of diplomatic relations. In addition he chooses to be oblivious to the fact that at no time did Turkey abandon its tri-partite demands, consisting of an Israeli apology, plus compensation to the victims in addition to the outrageous requirement of lifting the blockade of Gaza. Thus, Turkey attempted to not only put the total onus on Israel for the unfortunate turn of events, but to frontally assault the State of Israel's sovereignty.

Ben-Meir's recommendations could have grave consequences for Israel if acted upon, especially if an Israeli apology resulted not in restored relations, but was exploited by the Turks to demonstrate the injustice of Israel's claims concerning the right to defend itself and its borders from outside incursions. His assertions at best reflect misdirected naive wishful thinking, and at worst a cavalier and gross irresponsibility.

ZEV CHAMUDOT
Petach Tikva

J.Post November 6: Blaming Israel for Turkey

Sir, - I was sorely disappointed by the statement made by Minister Avishai Braverman at the reception in honor of Turkey's national day. As quoted by Greer Fay Cashman ('Grapevine,' November 4), he began by stressing the importance of relations between Israel and Turkey. Fine. But he concluded with 'We have to do everything possible to strengthen relations. Israel can't afford to quarrel with the whole world.'

Is Braverman placing the onus for the breach and the task of containing the 'quarrel' on us? He seems oblivious of the vicious and false accusations made gratuitously against Israel by the prime minister of Turkey. He chooses to ignore Turkey's growing alignment with the two leading anti-Israel terrorist states, Iran and Syria.

The appropriate response by a minister of the sovereign State of Israel must be a non-obsequious and forthright challenge to these base accusations and reprehensible behavior.We must unequivocally declare our positive interest in good relations between our two countries - based, however, on honor, mutual respect and many shared interests.

ZEV CHAMUDOT
Petah Tikva