A key question

Since many readers will disagree with “The Israeli government must cooperate with J Street” in improving Israel’s relations with the US (May 8), I believe the following should be considered.

J Street’s positions are supported by most American Jews, almost all US Democratic politicians, most world leaders, and most importantly, by a large majority of Israel’s retired military and strategic experts, as represented by Commanders for Israel’s Security(CIS).

J Street has consistently condemned Palestinian terrorism, most recently with the following statement about the horrific Elad murders: “We unequivocally condemn these violent attacks which terrorize innocent people, leave families mourning the loss of their irreplaceable loved ones, and risk sowing more fear and hatred in a conflict that has already seen far too much of it. There can be no justification for such violence, which does nothing to aid or advance the cause of Palestinians.”

A key question for opponents of J Street is: If there is no resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, how will Israel be able to avert continued and possibly increased violence and diplomatic criticism, effectively respond to our economic, environmental, educational, health, and other domestic problems, and remain a state that is both Jewish and democratic?

RICHARD H. SCHWARTZ

Shoresh

Wow. Avi Gil postulates: “The obvious partners... are the Jews of the US”. Clearly he is myopic. He casually mentions that saying evangelicals are more loyal to Israel than Jews is an insult to Jews.

In a poll, a majority of the less than six million self-identified US Jews today put Israel as their ninth political priority. They should not feel insulted for their own choice.

Meanwhile, Christians United for Israel alone has 7.1 million US members who support Israel fully. One would think then that by merely the numbers alone, it makes sense that the evangelicals are the more obvious partners, not the far-Left J Streeters.

GERSHON DALIN Modi’in-Maccabim-Reut