Regarding David Ignatius’s Oct. 9 op-ed, “The Hamas attack is an intelligence failure that could take Israel years to unravel”:
Unless otherwise credibly explained (unlikely), this was a massive and unconscionable intelligence failure on the part of responsible Israeli authorities.
George Fedoroff, Arlington
The writer is a retired senior intelligence officer for the Office of Naval Intelligence.
I disagree with the premise of the Oct. 9 op-ed by Max Boot [“This is Israel’s 9/11. The consequences will be dangerous — and unforeseeable.”] and David Ignatius [“The Hamas attack is an intelligence failure that could take Israel years to unravel”] on the attack on Israel.
This was not an intelligence failure; this was Israel’s arrogance gone too far and a lack of a sincere effort by other nations to finally create a two-state solution so the Palestinians could live in peace. With more defense power than nations double its size, Israel was assured to defend against the rocks and piddly rocket launchers by Palestinians. Perhaps the fact that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was getting cozy with the Saudis is what broke the camel’s back. Saudi Arabia provides mostly humantarian aid for Palestinians.
I am in no way condoning the violence and massive loss of life from this attack. This is a great tragedy. But to call it an intelligence failure is to overlook the fact that every human loss is unacceptable on both sides. For Israel, the nation that declares itself a victim of terrorism, it looks like David and Goliath in reverse.
Nabila Altafullah, Haymarket
After a profound failure of intelligence at all levels of government to anticipate the Hamas attack, Israel has decided to punish the entire population of Gaza with a total blockade of life’s necessities.
Evidence indicates that such collective punishment does not work. It contravenes the Geneva Conventions and will impose immense suffering on a “trapped and helpless” people, in the words of U.N. Secretary General António Guterres, as reported in the Oct. 10 front-page article “Israel orders ‘full siege’ of Gaza Strip.” The “siege” also will further turn the entire world against Israel and will provoke worldwide waves of antisemitism. In addition to upping its intelligence and degrading Hamas, Israel should use this horrendous occasion to begin transitioning to a more equitable state that recognizes the rights of the Palestinians.
Stanley I. Rapoport, Washington
In a family text thread, my cousin in Israel continues to send us updates about bomb shelters, sirens and rocket strikes. She expresses deep fear for her family and sorrow for the victims and hostages taken by Hamas. Then another cousin enters the thread and writes, “I feel bad for both sides.” Both sides? As in, Israel and Hamas? Hamas is a terrorist organization. Israel is the Jewish homeland and a democracy.
“I feel bad for both sides” is the equivalent of grieving al-Qaeda after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
My response was less polarizing. It read “Andrew has left the group chat.”
Andrew Ginsburg, Southport, Conn.
Hamas targeting civilians in Israel and leaving more than 1,200 dead, some 100 abducted and 2,900 wounded as of Wednesday evening, there is a sudden tactical concern about collateral damage coming from critics of Israel.
With Hamas specifically targeting civilians and hiding in residential neighborhoods, Hamas is creating an untenable situation that might leave Gaza looking like Dresden looked 78 years ago. Nobody should be complaining about collateral damage when Hamas is intentionally targeting civilians.
William T. Fidurski, Clark, N.J.
In his Oct. 10 op-ed, “Now comes the test of who supports Israelis’ human right to self-defense,” Natan Sharansky wrote that Human Rights Watch has concentrated “much of its energy on criticizing Israel.” This misrepresented our work.
Though it is true that we don’t give democracies a pass, we hold all governments to the same internationally accepted standards when they violate the rights of people to express themselves, move about freely or get a fair trial. We also report on atrocities committed by armed groups, including indiscriminate rocket attacks targeting Israeli communities, as we are doing now in our reporting on the unprecedented escalation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.
Our reporting on repressive Middle East governments is extensive and speaks for itself. We apply one set of standards to hold governments responsible for the abuses they commit, without regard to their political orientation, system of government or whether they allow our researchers in or ban them. That’s what human rights work is all about.
Tirana Hassan, New York
The writer is executive director of Human Rights Watch.
I am a member of Kolot Chayeinu, one of the 21 congregations that participated in Rabbi Rachel Timoner’s Simhat Torah celebration mentioned in the Oct. 9 front-page article “A sense of solidarity among American Jews — for now.” When Rabbi Timoner stated her intentions of turning our beautiful ancient ritual into a “stand with Israel” rally, members of Kolot Chayeinu’s anti-Zionist minyan realized we could no longer participate with a clear conscience. We joined leaders of Jewish Voice for Peace in organizing a protest at Grand Army Plaza instead, marching with more than 50 Jewish New Yorkers to the home of Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and calling on him to immediately end the $3.8 billion in military funding the United States gives Israel each year.
Though Israel just declared war on Gaza, we know that the strife began 75 years ago with the expulsion of 750,000 Palestinians from their homes during the Nakba. Israel has operated an apartheid regime, denying the dignity of Palestinians ever since. None of this is possible without our government’s complicity and moral cover. That is why we defected from Rabbi Timoner’s event and showed up at Mr. Schumer’s doorstep.
No, American Jews do not feel solidarity about Israel. I am proudly part of a long lineage of anti-Zionist Jews who believe everyone deserves to live with full freedom and dignity, including Palestinians.
Jay Saper, New York