To the editor: This is not an “agreement” between Israel and Hamas. It's extortion. (“Ceasefire between Israel and Hamas begins with handover of hostages,” January 19)
Trading a two-year-old boy, Kfir Bibas, and young people criminally kidnapped at a music venue by convicted and sentenced terrorists is not a deal. It shows that extortion pays, such as exchanging a kidnapped journalist and basketball player for spies who were tried and sentenced in a court of law (which Russia did), or kidnapping tourists or people visiting relatives in Iran and exchanging them by convicted spies.
At least don't call these exchanges “deals.”
Jesa Kreiner, Los Angeles
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To the editor: Donald Trump begins his presidency with a bang.
The ceasefire negotiated by former President Biden may never have been reached without Trump's hand in the balance. The war in Ukraine will probably end soon due to its influence on both sides. The southern border will finally be secured, and bad relations with China (which Trump exacerbated during his first term) may actually improve.
All of these things are good and are achieved only thanks to the president's unpredictability. Nobody wants to poke this bear. It's like throwing a live grenade onto the deck of a pitching ship. Nobody wants to grab it and throw it overboard.
The problem is that over time this will develop and predictability will return, even unpredictability. In the long term, intimidation and fear tactics will not replace the benefits of planning, diplomacy and cooperation.
As for me, I don't want to live in a world plagued by unpredictable dangers, institutionalized evil, and distrust of institutions, no matter what the rewards may be.
Michael Telerant, Los Angeles
