US Jews speak out

As an American Jew, I was raised to cherish Israel. Unfortunately, I have found myself appalled by much that takes place in your nation. Cherishing has turned to distrust and dislike. Now that your arrogant prime minister has given his speech to our Congress, interfering with our nation’s internal affairs (“PM to Congress: Deal paves Iran’s path to bomb,” March 4), I, for one, can no longer abide my country supporting Israel. That pompous ass claims to speak for all Jews. Well, he doesn’t speak for this Jew (and for many other American Jews I know). He speaks against me. His claim that Israel could go it alone is delusional. Most of what you have to defend yourselves is thanks to my country’s generosity – and gullibility. Any chance Israel has of surviving depends deeply on its allies, chiefly the United States. BARRY CUTLER Palm Desert, California Perhaps a Jewish Nobel Prize winner can say some frank things about your prime minister’s speech, as well as about some of your government’s policies, without being accused of being an antiSemite – the usual response to critics of Israel. I watched the speech on TV. While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did a good job of outlining the Israeli position, it was clearly a political speech, although I had a hard time telling how much of it was aimed at the Israeli election, and how much was aimed at cutting the feet out from under President Barack Obama in his efforts to get a deal on nuclear issues with Iran. The Netanyahu speech stated clearly that Israel would not stand passively in the face of another Holocaust. Everyone knows that. Everyone knows that Israel has nuclear weapons of its own, though you are careful never to acknowledge it. Everyone also knows that should a nuclear weapon go off on Israeli soil, there is at least one city in the Arab world that would no longer exist a few hours later. The effect of the speech on American politics is harder to judge. The Republicans in Congress already want to tighten sanctions on Iran, even in advance of a deal, making any deal much less likely. The speech played to their position, as was clear from who was standing and applauding. While Secretary of State John Kerry and National Security Adviser Susan Rice tried to tone down the politics before Netanyahu’s appearance, the speech itself made their efforts fruitless. I can’t say what the effect of the speech will be on the US Jewish community and the country’s unswerving support of Israel. I can say what the effect has been on me. I no longer want to pay for the settlements in the West Bank. The US gives Israel about $3 billion per year in support of its national security programs. This money allows Israel to spend $3 billion on other things, including things I don’t like. I do not like the settlement activities or the land grabs from the Arabs, and were I given the power, I would decrease our aid by one dollar for each dollar spent in expanding the Jewish presence on the West Bank. Netanyahu has unwisely chosen sides in the American political game. It will be very interesting to see how Israel responds in its election next week. BURTON RICHTER Palo Alto, California The writer won a Nobel Prize in Physics in 1976.