Is it too early to declare that Hamas has won? On Oct. 7, the group launched a brutal cross-border attack that, while not attempting any sort of military victory, would very predictively elicit an overwhelming response. The Israeli government more than obliged with a campaign of collective punishment on all of Gaza, killing 34,000 and counting; attacking homes, hospitals and declared “safe” zones; and blocking humanitarian aid.
Prior to this latest round of open warfare, Israel had been gaining political ground in reaching agreements with neighboring Arab states, while shoving the Palestinian question to the side. Its control of Gaza would remain, as would the ability of “settlers” to continue chipping away at the West Bank, hilltop by hilltop.
Now, as an unintended but predictable result of Israel’s own actions, concern for the welfare of the Palestinian people is finally front and center, whereas worldwide sympathy for Israel is rapidly dwindling.
The founding of Israel as a Jewish state and not just a “national home for the Jewish people,” as vaguely referred to in Britain’s Balfour Declaration, was controversial at the time. The final step would not have been taken without the support of the United States government, which had been lobbied heavily for years by, among others, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s father. Israeli propaganda reached its apogee with the 1958 publication of Leon Uris’s best-selling novel “Exodus” and the subsequent hit 1960 movie starring Paul Newman. The movie’s main theme song was recorded by countless artists. Our high school chorus in my small Midwestern town uncomprehendingly sang Pat Boone’s lyrics, which began: “This land is mine, God gave this land to me.”
Perhaps at present, the best that can be hoped for is a cease-fire followed by work toward a two-state solution with international guarantors. But such a resolution should be considered only a steppingstone toward a more comprehensive and stable final status. It would reward neither warring party and plot the only path forward that could achieve long-lasting mutual security, peace and prosperity: one country, from the river to the sea, established as a modern 21st century secular democracy, with equal rights for all irrespective of religion, ethnicity, ancestry, race, or sex.
This endpoint would not satisfy Hamas or the present extremist Israeli government, but both have lost all legitimacy. There is no other way.
— Stephen Julstrom, Chicago
Israelis support war in Gaza
I suggest that columnist Daniel DePetris (“The implications of an Israeli assault on Rafah are horrible,” May 7) go back and read his history books, especially about World War II. The United States bombed German cities and dropped atomic bombs on two of Japan’s cities, and we did not give advance notice of these attacks, nor did we plan on supporting the civilian population in the aftermath.
Why is the current war in Gaza any different in its purpose to eliminate a horrible enemy? There was no talk during World War II of humanitarian implications of such attacks.
The Israeli army has made attempts to avoid civilian casualties.
Gaza is not Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war. It is supported by Israeli citizens who do not want a resurrection of Hamas in the future that would bring about further horrible attacks on them.
For now, Netanyahu is the strong leader they need to finish off Hamas. After the war is over, the country will decide if he should remain in office.
— Sherwin Dubren, Morton Grove
Cease-fire, hostage release needed
I am a Jew and have always been a staunch supporter of Israel. I mourned and continue to mourn Hamas’ unprovoked Oct. 7 attack that murdered, raped, burned and kidnapped innocents. And I mourn and continue to mourn the destruction of Gaza, the loss of innocent Palestinians and the humanitarian crisis.
Following the Oct. 7 attack, the world sympathized with — and now the world condemns — Israel. Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu’s stated goal is to destroy Hamas. But Hamas is regrouping, and Israel’s actions are galvanizing and radicalizing new generations in the Middle East and elsewhere.
And, now Israel has attacked Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians have sought refuge, despite U.S. warnings against such action. While Netanyahu welcomes U.S. financial and military support, he rebuffs its counsel. President Joe Biden cajoles; Netanyahu ignores. Netanyahu would be wise to listen, for U.S. support is weakening and the tide is shifting.
It is beyond time for a cease-fire, a return of hostages and a negotiated long-term solution.
— Ava Holly Berland, Chicago
Lightfoot wasn’t fit to be mayor
First as the treasurer for Lori Lightfoot’s campaign for mayor and then as head of the Law Department for approximately the first two years of her administration, I had an inside view of the workings of the Lightfoot campaign and her administration as mayor. Greg Pratt’s book, “The City is Up for Grabs: How Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Led and Lost a City in Crisis,” accurately details the chaos and acrimony that engulfed her tenure as mayor.
On the campaign trail, Lightfoot criticized her predecessor, Rahm Emanuel, for being a dictator who lacked transparency. Pratt’s book vividly demonstrates that this is exactly how Lightfoot ran the city. She publicly criticized her staff and had no idea how to govern. She was incapable of rallying the troops or building coalitions. Pratt has done an excellent job reconstructing the unending crises, some of Lightfoot’s own making, that engulfed her administration. With accuracy and sometimes humor, Pratt provides example after example of these self-inflicted wounds.
One example of Lightfoot’s flip-flopping policies was her handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Initially, she suggested the media exaggerated the crisis. Then, after Gov. J.B. Pritzker shut down the schools and public events, Lightfoot shut down the lakefront, the only safe outdoor space people quarantined in their homes could go. It was chaos.
Pratt’s book is certainly worth a read. It calls into question why Chicagoans — regrettably including me — chose to back and vote for a mayor with zero experience governing and zero experience running a $16 billion corporation. Pratt makes the point that running the third largest municipality in the country should never be left to an amateur. The mayor of our beautiful city should not need on-the-job training, Pratt contends.
I recommend this book because it educates voters about the kind of candidate who should not be elected to occupy the mayor’s office ever again.
— Mark A. Flessner, former city corporation counsel, Chicago
Editorial gets it wrong about Canada
I’m astonished (that was the nicest word I could think of). I just read the April 26 editorial (“Want to move to Canada? Think carefully, Americans.”) in my regional paper, and I’d like the Tribune Editorial Board to know that I pledged my allegiance to the flag of the USA when I was in high school and became a dual citizen.
Since then, I’ve worked so hard organizing, campaigning, writing and receiving my doctorate — everything I could do to make this a better country with social justice. Several weeks ago, after letting my red lines with President Joe Biden’s Palestine policy turn pink, just like his have, too many times, I got a tattoo with the Saskatchewan lily (my birthplace) on my right wrist, held it up in front of my mirror and unpledged allegiance to the USA and repledged to Canada.
The editorial neglects to note the fact that Canada is not bombing and starving and killing 34,000 Palestinian men, women and children (mostly women and children) and vetoing or refusing to support United Nations calls for a cease-fire.
And in Canada, one-half of the population does not support a deranged and dangerous narcissist whose three goals are to commit international crimes against immigrants, get reelected (or just take over) and stay out of jail.
What was the board thinking?
Yeah, I know, people will say: Love it or leave it. But it’s funny — I no longer feel that horrible weight of responsibility, guilt and shame when I sit in a taxi or airport or conference or another country and people ask me where I’m from. I just say Canada.
— Jackie Brux, River Falls, Wisconsin
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