David Haeckel sarcastically questions which friend America should support financially in his May 24 letter to the editor (“Ukraine’s need versus Israel’s”). He ponders if America should support a country, Ukraine, fighting a superpower that threatens Western Europe or a country, Israel, that is decimating a small territory while killing its inhabitants.
Haeckel seems to take democratic values for granted. The right to free speech and practice of the religion of one’s choice are not guaranteed in the Middle East. Israel is the only democracy in the region protecting Western values including equal rights for its Arab citizens and its LGBTQ+ community. America supports Israel because it upholds these democratic values in the region.
Yes, America supports Israel, too, as a friend in the fight to return the hostages. Furthermore, it is Israel that is ferreting out Hamas, a terrorist organization embedded in the fabric of Palestinian society that in large part is responsible for the destruction and the deaths of tens of thousands of Gaza’s inhabitants.
— Ifaat Arbel Bosse, Northbrook
Netanyahu’s many ‘mistakes’
Should we believe Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a mistake in the May 26 bombing in Rafah? Since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, he has been constantly bombing the Gaza strip. More than 36,000 lives have been lost. If it’s a militant who is killed, it’s a victory; otherwise, it’s a mistake.
Netanyahu has bombed his own designated safe areas in the name of hunting down militants. He has put President Joe Biden in a diplomatic dilemma by not heeding world opinion or the order of the International Criminal Court.
— Mumtaz U. Khan, Chicago
‘Zionist’ has become a slur
The Hamas attack of Oct. 7 and the resulting war in Gaza have spurred a dramatic rise in global antisemitism. A significant portion of discourse surrounding Israel has centered around the concept of Zionism and whether “anti-Zionism” is, in fact, antisemitism. The answer is complex but can be simplified to “sometimes, but not always.”
Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez’s social media post regarding her desire to find an “anti-Zionist pediatrician” serves as an unfortunate example of anti-Zionism converging with antisemitism. The term “Zionism” has seemingly been co-opted from the Jewish community and transformed into a slur that essentially serves as an equivalent for all things evil. In reality, the modern definition of Zionism serves as a broad umbrella term for the belief in self-determination and safety for Jewish people within a secure homeland. The majority of American Jews identify as some form of “Zionist.”
As a Zionist physician, I believe in Israel’s right to exist alongside an eventual Palestinian state. At the same time, I am highly critical of the Israeli government and the ongoing atrocities carried out by the Israeli military in Gaza. Despite this, I, and many others in my community, have been labeled as colonizers, white supremacists and “evil Zionists.”
My passion for medicine largely stems from my Jewish identity, within which Zionism is intertwined and inseparable. To heal others, no matter their background, is a form of “tikkun olam” (repairing the world), which is the most Jewish thing one can do. I find it disturbing that certain individuals believe I am unfit to care for patients due to my Jewish, Zionist identity.
The slurring of Zionist physicians is reminiscent of historic discrimination against Jewish people in academia and the professional world. In recent months, I have observed colleagues, including fellow physicians, embrace rhetoric contending that Zionists control the media, government and higher education. Collectively these comments, along with those of Rodriguez-Sanchez’s, are demonstrations of gross antisemitism cloaked in the guise of “anti-Zionist” activism. This framework of bigoted thinking endangers Jewish constituents.
I urge Rodriguez-Sanchez to engage with, and learn from, the Chicago Jewish community and to challenge her preconceived notions surrounding Zionism.
— Dr. Sarah Diamond, Chicago
British Empire is to blame
I am an American Jew — if you were to ask me what religion I practice or was raised in. I am not a Zionist. One is a religion, and the other was and is a religion-based political movement to establish a homeland for Jews. To say you are opposed to Zionism does not make you antisemitic.
The current seemingly intractable situation in Gaza cannot be understood without looking at how this miserable situation came about. The blame should be laid primarily on the British Empire, along with the French and Russian empires, whose machinations and schemes in the World War I era in divvying up the collapsing Ottoman Empire led to the problems we have dealt with ever since. For internal political reasons and wartime objectives, these imperial regimes made promises of a national homeland for both the Arabs and the Jews.
The creation of the state of Israel required the displacement of about 800,000 Palestinians, so therein lies the cause of the continuing crisis and war. The reality is what it is, so the only potential way out of this mess is a separate, sovereign Palestinian state. And this would have to be coupled with a massive rebuilding effort, like the post-World War II Marshall Plan.
— Robert Hart, Chicago
May faith in others endure
As I think of Hamas’ horrific crimes on Oct. 7 and the immense suffering of the residents of Gaza, I am reminded of the words of Paulo Freire from his book “Pedagogy of the Oppressed”:
“I hope at least that the following will endure: my trust in the people, and my faith in men and women, and in the creation of a world in which it will be easier to love.”
— Terry Hansen, Milwaukee
Supporting a warring nation
I was truly shocked to hear about how much money was flowing into Russia from American companies. I realize that one can’t just cancel contracts and put many U.S. workers out of a job, but surely something could be said or done as a deterrent?
The op-ed by Marko Supronyuk (“Chicago’s Mondelez has kept its ties with a warring Russia,” May 28) was an eye-opener for me. I had no idea.
— Cynthia Olson, Chicago
Do CTA leaders use the CTA?
I am wondering if Ald. William Hall, 6th, who criticized those taking action to remove CTA President Dorval Carter Jr., ever travel via public transportation? If he does not use the CTA, he has no room to speak out about its leadership publicly.
I do travel on public transportation and have experienced ghost bus after ghost bus. This has occurred since well before the pandemic. Something must change. I also think that the current CTA leadership and past leadership never travel on public transportation.
I did see a picture of Carter stepping off a Yellow Line train recently, though. Besides that trip, does Carter believe his work is too important to take transportation from the organization he heads?
— Janice Gintzler, Crestwood
No building on the lakefront
Why is there any discussion about the Bears building a stadium on the lakefront? Years ago, Chicago merchant Montgomery Ward forbade any building on Lake Michigan. Rightly so!
Museums and Bears can go across the street. Stay off the lakefront.
Chicago has the most beautiful lakefront of anywhere. Do not ever spoil it.
— Mary Ann Moravek, Riverside
Pandering for VP disgraceful
Letter writer Jeffrey Hobbs (“Running for vice president,” May 28) said exactly what I have been thinking for months. Happy to read that I am not the only one who feels this way. Very well said.
— Avon Sulser, Rockford
Beetles will invade soon
Be patient, gardeners. In a few weeks’ time, the cicadas will be gone — just in time to welcome the annual hatching of the Japanese beetles.
— Richard Schultz, Crete
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