The real battle

Seth J. Frantzman’s article’s title, “What did the ‘Great March of Return’ achieve?” (May 18) asks the right question, but unfortunately, he gives the wrong answer.

The “Great March” was a stunning success for Hamas! The “Great March” succeeded in burying the news of the many Israeli successes that occurred during that week, including the opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem, winning the Eurovision, destroying much of Iran’s military infrastructure in Syria, and hosting an important international bicycle race. However, instead of reporting these pro-Israeli events, the front-page story of the world press was that the Israeli army is ruthlessly gunning down dozens of unarmed Palestinian demonstrators at the Gaza border. This was the real achievement of the “Great March.”

Hamas understands what we don’t seem to grasp. The real battle did not take place at the Gaza border; it took place in the media, and Hamas won this battle hands down, while simultaneously blackening the name of the Israeli army. I find it incredible that although we are the start-up nation of the world, we cannot figure out how to control Palestinian demonstrators without killing them. PROF. NATHAN AVIEZER Petah Tikva

There is no way Israel can effectively combat the Hamas propaganda campaign making use of the number of Arab deaths until one thing becomes crystal clear. Hamas actively promotes occasions that result in the deaths deliberately for that purpose and achieves its objective by making martyrdom worthwhile.

The callous sacrifice of lives for publicity is so far removed from the morals and concepts of Western culture that it is always only Israel that is blamed. It is necessary to teach the world that each and every death is just what Hamas intended.

It appears that US President Donald Trump has already realized this. MORTIMER RABIN Jerusalem

Good to find Reuven Ben-Shalom back writing opinion pieces! He is always incisive and timely.

In “Peaceful demonstrations? Yeah right!” (May 11) he was also prophetic, anticipating the misguided, biased headlines across the globe focusing on Gaza’s “peaceful protests,” without identifying the murderous objectives of the protesters and those who sent them.

Unfortunately, there were those in the press who blamed the events in Gaza on the historic opening of the USA Embassy in Jerusalem, Israel, forgetting that Palestinian terrorism predates the embassy move by many decades. JOANNE JACKSON YELENIK Beit Shemesh