To the editor: For years I have been criticizing the Times for what I considered its anti-Israel bias, both in its news reporting and in its opinion section. This time, I am pleased to congratulate the newspaper for publishing an opinion piece on the reality of the threat posed by Hamas and its sponsor, Iran.
Many people I know have focused their criticism on what they believe are “genocidal” attacks by Israel against civilians in the Gaza Strip. But his criticisms are misdirected. In truth, Hamas is responsible for these atrocities, not Israel.
If Hamas were to lay down its weapons and surrender, the lives of innocent Israelis and Gazans would be saved.
Of course, we abhor the loss of lives of innocent Gazans. But Israel declaring a ceasefire is not the solution. It is evident that the opposite occurs. A ceasefire sends a message to the world's terrorists that their strategy works.
There is only one way to deal with terrorists: hunt them down and destroy them at all times. Yes, it may not put an end to their activities, but it may force them to think twice before engaging in such horrendous behavior in the future.
Bruce Friedman, Los Angeles
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To the editor: The authors' erroneous right-wing analysis of Iran's role as a sponsor of terrorism in the Middle East only serves to distract from the central issue driving the current conflict: namely, the oppression of the Palestinian population through apartheid policies. of Israel and its inflexible occupation of Palestinian Territory.
Contrary to the narrative that places Iran at the center of terrorist activity in the region, the degree of Iran's involvement remains undetermined.
To be clear, Iran is a corrupt and undemocratic theocracy, but holding it responsible for the Hamas attack only ignores the root cause of the conflict and the uniquely violent acts of resistance that inevitably follow.
Placing blame for the current hostilities on Iran does not eliminate the need to examine Israel's misconduct in its horrific siege of Gaza. It has effectively been argued that what Israel is doing in its campaign in Gaza amounts to genocide.
Andrew Spathis, Los Angeles
