To the editor: I understand that from a diplomatic perspective, it is best for President Biden to keep his plans and conversations private. Israel is a loyal ally of the United States (“Biden and Netanyahu speak as pressure grows on Israel over Rafah invasion,” April 28)
But the president is losing some of the voters he needs to win the next election. Young people have pure hearts and little understanding of political nuances or subtleties. They see evil actions in the Gaza Strip and want them to stop.
And, of course, they are right, just as they were right when they protested the Vietnam War.
If these people vote for former President Trump, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Jill Stein, or a write-in candidate, or if they simply don't vote, Trump will become our next president. That would be far worse for the country and the world than anything other than nuclear war.
I know Biden can't convince everyone of his good intentions, but I wish he would address the nation in prime time, express his anger and hurt, and give us all a plan. He needs to sound strong and unambiguous, something like “Mr. Netanyahu, end this war.”
It worked for President Reagan and would make a real difference in November.
Dixie McIlwraith, Pasadena
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To the editor: We must remember that Israel dismantled all its settlements in Gaza in 2005. Hamas has ruled it since 2007.
There is a simple solution to the heartbreaking loss of life in Gaza: Hamas should leave Gaza immediately, because if Hamas was truly interested in protecting its fellow Palestinians, it would do so.
Then the bombing would stop. There would be no need for further retaliation against Hamas in Gaza for its horrendous surprise attack on Israel on October 7.
Since then, the Israeli army has undertaken a punitive campaign to eliminate Hamas, which operates among the population of Gaza. Therefore, all deaths from the war must be attributed to Hamas.
Analysts should stop blaming Israel and instead demand that Hamas leave Gaza immediately.
Jack Salem, Los Angeles
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To the editor: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's actions are a case study of what can happen when a country elects an authoritarian whose motivation for taking office is to avoid that country's legal system.
Are voters in the United States paying attention?
David Avirom, Whittier
