Regarding a response to my letter of January 4 [“Relevant Events,” Letters, January 8], I encouraged everyone to do the research and seek the truth. I am a Jewish American, a descendant of the Tribe of Judah from the land of Judea and an ardent supporter of Israel. Clearly, regarding Israel, I am biased. Nevertheless, I research, examine and depend upon the facts.
Yes, Ariel Sharon visited the Temple Mount on September 28, 2000, for 35 minutes. He didn’t enter or attempt to enter any mosque. He remained in the tourist area, which was open to any visitor. The Mitchell Committee was established by President Bill Clinton, November 2000. The report was published April 2001. Here is the direct quote from the report: “The Sharon visit did not cause the Al-Aqsa Intifada.”
The Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 was enacted by the 104th U.S. Congress (Senate 93-5, House 374-37). It recognized an undivided Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The act enabled the president to defer moving the embassy every six months. The deferral was repeatedly signed by Clinton, Bush, Obama and Trump. May 14, 2018, under Trump’s direction, the embassy moved to Jerusalem. Previously, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution commemorating the 50th anniversary of reunification of Jerusalem and reaffirmed the Embassy Act.
Israel is an autocratic government? Functioning with an elected parliament and a supreme court that clearly support separation of power and reflect the will of the people?
From the George W. Bush Presidential Center: “Only one country in the Middle East — Israel — is considered ‘free’ in Freedom House rankings, with Lebanon, Morocco, Kuwait, and Tunisia classified as ‘partly free.’ The rest fall into the ‘not free’ category. Tunisia is likely to slip to ‘not free’ status in the next survey unless Saïed’s power grab is reversed.
Syria has the worst rating in the region, followed by Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Syria and Yemen, of course, have experienced horrible wars.”
Prior to the October 7 attack, Gaza was thriving, not imprisoned or impoverished. Yes, there are some poor areas in Gaza (not as bad as San Francisco), but have a look at some of the videos filmed by local Gazans: beautiful streets, Mosques, shopping malls, resorts, hotels, hospitals, universities and seaside beaches.
Anyone concerned about corruption should have a look at Fatah, Hamas, Yasser Arafat (deceased) and Mahmoud Abbas.
Ghazi Hamad, a senior Hamas official, plays coy on BBC and the international press. In Arabic on Lebanon’s LBC, however, he reveals Hamas’ intentions to continue perpetuating October 7-style massacres until the whole of Israel (and every Jew residing within) is destroyed.
A cease fire is a victory for Hamas.
Howard Samborn
Southampton
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