To achieve peace, Israel needs willing partners

Scott E. Cohen’s commentary (“Israel’s Palestinian policy inconsistent with Judaism,” June 9) unjustifiably criticizes Israel’s defensive actions after Hamas’ 4,000-rocket terrorist attack and is filled with misinformation. Callously and remarkably, he “… [doesn’t] care how much Israel believes its safety and existence are under constant threat.”

Judaism has been a source of moral guidance for millennia, and Israel has sought peace with its Arab neighbors but has had to defend itself continually. Israel withdrew from Gaza unilaterally and unconditionally in 2005; in 2007, Hamas turned Gaza into a terrorist state with the sole purpose of destroying Israel.

Hamas purposely fires

rockets at Israeli civilian targets and uses Palestinian civilians as shields, which are both war crimes. Hamas rockets have landed in Gaza, causing civilian deaths and destruction. Hamas uses underground pipes to build terrorist tunnels and rockets for attacking Israel.

There was no “systematic destruction,” as Cohen asserts. Israeli attacks on Gaza were against military targets, keeping civilian casualties to a minimum. The airstrike that destroyed a Gaza building housing The Associated Press caused international outrage. However, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations indicated that within that building, Hamas “… was developing an electronic jamming system to be used against [Israel’s] Iron Dome defense system.” Israel gave a one-hour advance warning so no employees or

civilians would be injured.

It has been said that if Israel’s enemies would put down their weapons, there would be peace. But if Israel puts down its weapons, there would be no more Israel. Israel does not, as Cohen states, hate its Arab neighbors. Israel simply wants to live in peace and needs willing partners.

Elliott Greene

Altamont