Outrage and shame.

I have been a subscriber for many years and appreciate many of your articles and editorials. I find Matthew Rothschild's September Editor's Note, "Outrage and Shame," to be justified in general. However, I was disappointed he neglected to discuss the alternative for Israel after its soldiers were seized by Hezbollah on Israeli land. Should they have not reacted to this unlawful act? Should they have complained to the United Nations?

I would suggest that your comments did not consider the gravity of the act and the alternatives for Israel to react. The fact that Hezbollah used civilian housing to store its weapons complicated the situation and resulted in a large number of civilian deaths.

Tell us what you think Israel should have done after the kidnapping of its soldiers.

Milton Shapiro

via e-mail

Matthew Rothschild claims to feel shame as a Jew that "a nation of Jews would commit war crimes," referring to the recent invasion of Lebanon by Israel. In his entire essay, he devotes a whopping one sentence to Hezbollah's firing rockets into Israel and its seizing of Israeli soldiers, neglecting to mention that the soldiers were kidnapped from Israeli soil and that other soldiers died in the incident. He also neglects the long history of Hezbollah terrorizing Israelis for years by use of such rockets from Lebanon.

Israelis have lived in a perpetual state of war since independence in 1948. What would Rothschild have them do in response to Hezbollah? As a Jew, Rothschild should also know that it is against our precepts to stand idly by and be killed; one is obligated to defend oneself. If a nongovernmental group of terrorists fired rockets from Tijuana into San Diego, would he object to the American government doing all in its power to stop such crimes?

Every nation has a right to defend its sovereignty and safety. If Rothschild feels shame, then as a Jew he should engage in tikkun olam, the repairing of our shattered world, by suggesting positive steps to peace, rather than taking the easier editorial road of tearing down Israel for trying to maintain its existence.

Gregory J. Davis

Lexington, Kentucky 

In response to the editorial published in the September issue of The Progressive, "The Israeli-American Invasion of Lebanon," I attempt to speak for the millions of low-profile, left-leaning Jews who feel betrayed by the left. For far too long, I have been guilty of keeping silent in the presence of my ACLU-loving, prochoice, progressive friends, as they indiscriminately trash Israel.

I feel the left has unjustly singled out Israel as the villain--and, by extension, the Jews. Who can blame us if we suspect anti-Semitism dressed up in a new coat?

According to Human Rights Watch, there is plenty of blame to go around. While the left condemns Israel's full-scale attack on southern Lebanon in response to being purposely baited by Hezbollah, Human Rights Watch also describes a litany of war crimes committed against Israel, including the indiscriminate use of Katyusha rockets against Israeli populations and terrorism.

The left either justifies or minimizes these Arab war crimes. Despite the fact that Israel has repeatedly been attacked by Arab nations and terror groups throughout its brief modern history, in the mind of the left, Israel's defensive response has never been appropriate.

Lynn Rothman

New Port Richey, Florida 

The two lead items in the September issue caused me to stop reading and start thinking about how to word my cancellation letter! As the sole purpose for the existence of Hezbollah and Hamas is the destruction of Israel and the genocide of all Jews everywhere, that you feel that they should be treated more kindly leads me to assume that you would have felt the same way toward Hitler, Eichmann, et al!

I'm supportive of your positions on most issues but not on this one.

Yes, I'm Jewish, but I don't think any group whose existence is based on killing should get much consideration or sympathy.

Sidney Malamut

via e-mail

Shame on you, Matthew Rothschild. Shame that you can't grant your own people the same humanness you are willing to grant other people. Shame on you, that you can't acknowledge the fear stalking Israelis that may cause them to do the things you are so outraged by. Shame on you for not acknowledging that the fear Israelis live with is more than the death of families and friends (although this is horrible enough). Israelis fear the annihilation of their country.

There is plenty of shame (and outrage) to go around, Matthew. Why is yours mostly directed at Israel?

Karen Eble

Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania