Letter: Don’t blame Israel for merely defending itself

Saturday, July 12, 2003 | 3:42 a.m.

If American troops in Iraq would only stop retaliating against Arab terrorists who attack them and fire upon them, the cycle of violence in Iraq would stop.

Does anyone believe that statement? I certainly do not. Do you believe the idea is basically unreasonable? I sure do.

Yet, that is the premise advanced as a "solution" for ending the confrontation between Israel and the terrorist entities who murder Israeli civilians, including infants and school kids. Israel is told, "Don't retaliate, just allow 'them' to bomb weddings, civilian buses, restaurants, etc., and the 'cycle' of violence will end."

No other country, no other armed forces, would be so concerned and, truly, so gentle, as has been the Israeli army. And yet, retaliation by Israel is called a "cycle" of violence, rather than defense of civilians, as it would be labeled in any other country, including Iraq.

Instead, it is a recurrence of the "cycle of double standard" so long directed against Israel.

LEE BERNSTEIN

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