Israel and Europe

With regard to “European countries want Israel to pay for Palestinian structures that it razed” (October 20), these countries should be repaying us for the expenses we incurred because of their illegal construction. ALAN STEIN Netanya

In “Mind-boggling European Union chutzpah” (No Comment, October 20), David M. Weinberg brings to light a very important and dangerous situation: The EU’s support of the Palestinians has graduated from passive diplomatic and financial assistance to subversive participation in illegal Palestinian building in Judea and Samaria.

I understand that the EU wants to develop, and is developing, a Palestinian state on the ground. What I do not understand is why Israel allows it.

Since the days of Yitzhak Rabin, every prime minister has promised to allow Ma’aleh Adumim to build on E-1, which legally belongs to it and would block the continuity of Arab towns. The danger on the road from Jerusalem to Ma’aleh Adumim is that at anytime, thousands of Palestinians can close it with bullets being shot from the surrounding hilltops. If this happens, residents will not be able to leave and will have to be ready with their weapons to defend their homes. It is the same in other places where the EU has built for Palestinians statehood.

It is time to stop fearing nations. Weakness brings dead Jews; strength brings victory. The world will hate us – it already does. I would rather have a State of Israel that is hated by the world than an Auschwitz that is loved by the world. BARBARA GINSBERG

Ma’aleh Adumim

Regarding “Europe is waiting for us” (Comment & Features, October 13), with all due respect to MK Isaac Herzog, Europe is not waiting for us – we are waiting for Europe.

Herzog writes from a typical Israeli point of view, not understanding the cultural background of the Europeans. The Europeans are mainly Christians, brought up on a diet of either the Jews killed Christ or they caused Christ to be killed. They do not love us. They are now encouraged by millions of Muslims in their midst.

Herzog then refers, appropriately, to Israel’s flourishing relations with India and China (actually, most of the Far East). These peoples are not predominantly Christian so they don’t come with the Christian “baggage.” They see us as just another race or creed.

These countries are only too happy to enjoy and appreciate the benefits of what a small country like Israel has to offer. Also, you seldom find neo-Nazis or pro-BDS movements there. ARYEH (LOUIS) ZETLER

Hoshaya