Israeli occupation vs. U.S. values

Silver Spring, Md.: In his Op-Ed “Democratic Party leaders must take on Bernie Sanders on Israel” (Nov. 14), Jack Rosen condemns Sanders for saying what is obvious to growing numbers of Democrats — that “Israel’s continued occupation of Palestinian territories is contrary to fundamental American values.” Democrats don’t need Sanders to convince them of this truth. It is blatantly clear, and it should be of great concern to all friends of Israel and all concerned with Israel’s security, that there is a growing values gap between Israel and the United States. It’s about more than just the Palestinians. It involves governmental disdain for Reform and Conservative Judaism, efforts to weaken Israel’s Supreme Court, efforts to place Orthodox theology above democratic principles, and much more.

Last week marked the 29th anniversary of the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in, which they formally reversed their denial of the legitimacy of “Israel’s birth certificate,” the United Nations Partition Resolution of 1947. And in a few weeks, it will be 29 years since they accepted Israel’s right to exist. Israel made serious efforts to reach an end of conflict agreement under two prime ministers, Ehud Barak and Ehud Olmert. And Ariel Sharon, had he lived, might have been a third. The same cannot be said of the present government.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is now in his fourth term, and he has yet to put forward a peace plan that he is prepared to sign. Israel’s real security lies in making peace with the Palestinians. It is not Bernie Sanders who is anti-Israel; it is, very sadly, the current Israeli government. Jerome M. Segal, president, The Jewish Peace Lobby

Not feeling a draft

Staten Island: I wanted to let Voicer Rosie Stein know that there was no draft at the time Barack Obama would have been eligible. Bill Clinton had an educational deferment from the Vietnam draft and was a Rhodes Scholar. That’s something Donald Trump would never be accused of being! Ellen Settanni

Open-door policy

Brooklyn: To Voicer Evelyn Zorovich: As someone who says she is lucky to be a native-born New Yorker, I am amazed you would want to prevent others from coming to this country to have the opportunities for a better life that your immigrant ancestors came here for. I see you live in Queens, which has the largest foreign-born population of any county in the country. You can see for yourself how decent these people are. Also, few apply for anything like welfare because they consider it insulting. They came to work here, as I’m sure your family did. I am also sure you are glad nobody proposed closing the door when your family was coming here. Natalie Goldman Brooklyn: Comrade Wilhelm de Blasio was reelected by Democrats to spite President Trump and the Republican Party. The only good news for New York is that City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito is gone because of term limits. Goodbye and good riddance. I won’t miss that angry face. Too bad de Blasio can’t follow her. Teresa Pagani

Wrong choice

Middle Village: Let me get this straight: Even this left-leaning newspaper would not endorse Bill de Blasio for mayor. But you liberals voted him in rather than a smart woman like Nicole Malliotakis because she voted for President Trump. Great. This guy de Blasio is just as crooked as Hillary Clinton. Don’t forget to elect Mario Cuomo Jr. again when it’s his turn. This way we can change the name of the state to Corrupt York. At least we are getting rid of that puss face terrorist-lover Melissa Mark-Viverito. Don’t let the door hit you on the butt on the way out. Maybe we will put up a statue of you to scare the birds. Not! Michael Geraci

Precious medal

New Hyde Park, L.I.: To Voicer Rebecca H. Directo: To obtain your father’s Congressional Gold Medal, go to the website vetsequitycenter.org. From there you will be able to download a form, fill out and submit. Hope this helps.

Andrew Dooley

Turnout, turned around

Manhattan: Tina Dupuy (“It’s never too late: Demand early voting,” Op-Ed, Nov. 12) argues cogently for allowing early voting in New York state because of low voter participation. But in her last paragraph she mentions that the state with the highest voter participation is Minnesota because they have a law permitting employees time off to go vote. Yet we New Yorkers, too, have a law to the same effect allowing all employees sufficient time off to go vote. In my many years active in New York politics, I have observed that it isn’t the time element why people don’t vote, but that they are uninterested in voting.

Alan Flacks

From the field

Bronx: If the Voice of the People editors had a baseball team, their opponents would have no need for a right-fielder since they rarely swing in that direction.

Michael J. Hanahoe

Healy’s the one

Rockaway Beach: I’m writing to commend the owner of Healy’s Pub in Rockaway Beach. A Vietnam veteran, he held an NFL-free Sunday on Nov. 12. The pub had a hot buffet, live music, a packed bar and, most importantly, no football! Kudos to Healy’s Pub. Dennish McClean

Wrong place

Levittown, L.I.: The current occupant of the Oval Office — er, whatsisname — is obsessed with the concept “America First,” so myopic that he fails to see America’s place is not above but among all the nations, united, in restoring Mother Earth to health, for the sake of our posterity.

Ben Calderone

Stop the presses

Belleville, N.J.: Re “Stop promoting mass murders” (Nov. 12): These killers are getting too much media coverage. The killers doing this harm should not have their faces on every newspaper and in magazines like they are someone important. The paper should write that a person with mental problems shot up a church or a club or drove a truck down a bike path. That should be all the coverage these people should get, no names and no pictures.

Paul Jones

See through this plan

Whitestone: Dear Donald: What ever happened to Plan A, the wall? Maybe we have to go to Plan B: A clear veil, so we can just see the other side. Plus it’s cheaper. Sally DeFelice

Alone again

Rochdale Village: I write as a retired original NYC Transit police officer of the 1960s. Transit cops patrolled by themselves and rode trains by themselves between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. Most stations had an officer assigned to them at night, and we did this without radios. So what’s the problem? Kenneth Gibbs

The real crook

Silver Spring, Md.: What am I missing? Ten months of investigation of President Trump, no evidence of collusion. However, there is much evidence against Hillary Clinton and company. The monies John Podesta and Bill Clinton received. Why is she not wearing an orange jumpsuit? Because Robert Mueller and his staff are pro-Hillary. Mena Marano

And her friends

East Meadow, L.I.: Has anybody noticed that most of the masturbators, forcible touchers and rapists have been Trump-haters and big-time Hillary supporters. Coincidence? I think not.

Louis J. Barbone

Unholy conduct

Hardwick, N.J.: Re “Time to listen to male vics” (column, Nov. 5): I read Linda Stasi’s columns each week with interest. Sometimes I agree, sometimes not so much. This time, she wrote a good one on the victims of the powerful men who abuse women and some young boys. However, how many Roman Catholic priests, who have been abusing young children for years, ever are incarcerated? Jean Hayes

Nix the ticks

AP Canandaigua, N.Y.: Foxes eat tick-infested rodents. An opossum hosts more than 5,500 ticks in a season and consumes a majority of them. From late October until mid-February, hunters and trappers in New York are permitted to kill an unlimited number of foxes and opossums. The New York state Senate’s Task Force on Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases should do everything possible to assure foxes and opossums are protected species, throughout the year, in order to reduce tick-borne disease risks for humans.

Joel D. Freedman