Look at the West Bank, if you care about tragedy

The writer is responding to a column in Monday’s Post, “Turning our backs on the tragedy of Aleppo.”

The op-ed by Leon Wieseltier came with  a note attributing to David Friedman, Trump’s choice of ambassador to Israel, that the new president would support Israeli annexation “of parts of the West Bank.” This means that, as usual, Israel can continue its land grabs, colonization and militarization of Palestinian lands while herding the inhabitants of these lands, the legitimate inhabitants, into Israeli bantustans with many restrictions on their movement.

The plight of these people, victims of a gross injustice, is swept under the carpet among denunciations of “anti-Semitism,” the old canard whereby anything Israel and the Israelis do is immune to criticism. This is a leading cause of Middle Eastern instability and a factor that the U.S. and the Zionist lobby in this country have perpetuated through inaction and indifference on the part of the former and a deliberate agenda by the latter.

Leon Wieseltier’s agonizing over areas of victimization is touching, but is he not selective in his choice of victims? And Elie Wiesel, was he morally consistent in his humanitarian concerns? Syria, Bosnia, Rwanda, Iraq, Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan — are these really important to him or are they pawns in channeling moral concern through politically correct conduits?

This is all impressive, Mr. Wieseltier, but some victims have been left out of your accounting — or was this done on purpose?

— Richard Nash Creel

Salisbury

Accept responsibility, sir

To the man that backed into my blue Toyota Highlander in the Granite Quarry Post Office parking lot at 6:30 p.m. Monday: Shame on you. Your trailer hitch left a huge hole in my back bumper and damaged the back left side of my vehicle. You knew you did it, but you immediately drove away.

You knew I was inside the post office where you could come talk to me. It is sad you think this behavior is fine, without accepting responsibility for your actions. To the woman who consoled me, thank you. You were very kind, and I hope you have a Merry Christmas!

— Janet Rockette

Granite Quarry

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