Ortal Shmueli vs. Lag Baomer Animal Abuse

Sir, - I must confess that it was curiosity that prompted me to read the article by Rachel Avraham about Ortal Shmueli titled "A wonderful candidate for Beersheba's city council." Never having heard her name, I was interested in finding out why she merited an article that essentially was nothing other than a letter of recommendation for her election, plus some statements by Shmueli herself expressing her interest in helping Olim and some of the programs that she would like to promote.

Shmueli, however, also informs us about an additional agenda to that of serving the citizens of Beersheba, one in which she wants to help educate the population against the abuse of animals. In pursuit of that goal, she is quoted as saying that "many children around the country throw animals into fires during Lag Baomer and abuse animals in horrific ways."

My family and I have celebrated Lag Baomer more than 40 times in Israel, and I state categorically that we have never witnessed or heard from any of our many friends about the revolting practice that Shmueli describes. It is a most unfortunate and baseless exaggeration, that not only brings no credit to its author but will also undoubtedly be added to the list of calumnies against the people and state of Israel. It is a hapless statement that has no redeeming qualities and for me reflects quite negatively on the merits of Ortal Shmueli.

ZEV CHAMUDOT
Petach Tikva

[Image credit: אדיר-מתן אוזן] 

The Truth About Israel and Illegal Immigrants

Sir, - The title of M.K. Shlomo Molla's article "Foreign workers - the latest victims" is quite consistent with the hostile tone that he adopts throughout his column. One gets the distinct impression that Molla is far less interested in a fair and just solution to a very complex problem confronting the State of Israel, than in exhausting his lexicon of tiresome cliches.

The M.K. begins with a malicious attack upon the reception granted the large waves of aliya from different countries by stating,"but all met here with a cold shoulder of scorn, rejection and lack of respect." Not only is this a gross distortion of the truth but it reflects an animus toward a beleaguered Israeli society which from the beginning of its being has made heroic and Herculean efforts to provide a haven and home for the ingathering of the exiles.

Molla borders on vicious obscenity when he accuses Israel of racism based on skin color, when his very own presence as a member of the Knesset gives the lie to that allegation. He unabashedly chooses to ignore the fact that it was the Israeli government that actively sought out the Jews of Ethiopia and organized the massive airlifts to bring them home to Israel.

Israel, even when engaged in the defense of its existence has welcomed to its midst waves of immigrants from Iraq, Morocco, Yemen, India, Russia, America, England, S.Africa, and Australia and has succeeded in creating a dynamic, and fully democratic society.

While it is true that the illegal immigrants who are flooding our shores create a variety of problems that require sensitivity and humanity in addressing them, they can never be solved by making Israel the scapegoat for all the world's ills.

ZEV CHAMUDOT
Petach Tikva

[Image credit: Roi Boshi]