Was it just me, or was the letter of Ralph E. Brooks in Wednesday’s paper nothing but one giant contradiction (“Holocaust can’t justify occupation,” Sept. 4, pg. 10)? Mr. Brooks seems to want to work towards peace in Israel, yet also tries to justify pro-Palestinian terrorism by labeling it as “resistance” fighting. The fact is that Israel, not Palestine, has been the party who has historically put peace offers on the table, only to encounter wave after wave of terrorist bombings and attacks.
No, the Holocaust is not a justification for unnecessary violence, but it does remind us of the need for a strong, safe and protected state of Israel. European Jews and other peoples around the world found themselves caught off-guard by the Nazis during the Holocaust and, because of this, millions died. For this reason, Israel must remain vigilant in protecting itself. Most Israelis would like nothing more than to have a lasting peace. But like America, Israel does not negotiate with terrorists.
To survivors of the Holocaust, Israel represents a place where any Jew can go without fear of persecution in a world that is still filled with anti-Semitism. It is therefore no wonder that a man like Elie Wiesel would want nothing more than to see this all-important land be well-protected against those who would cause its downfall.
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