Is it too early to declare Hamas a winner? On October 7, the group launched a brutal cross-border attack that, although not attempting any military victory, would very predictably elicit an overwhelming response. The Israeli government has more than complied with its campaign of collective punishment across Gaza, killing 34,000 people and counting. Attack homes, hospitals, and declared “safe” zones. and blocking humanitarian aid.
Prior to this latest battle, Israel had gained political grounds for reaching agreements with its Arab neighbors while pushing aside the Palestinian issue. Control of Gaza will remain, as will the ability of “settlers” to continue chipping away from hilltop to hilltop of the West Bank.
Now, as an unintended but predictable consequence of Israel's own actions, concerns for the welfare of the Palestinian people are finally being brought to the fore, while global sympathy for Israel is rapidly declining.
The establishment of Israel as a Jewish state rather than a “national homeland for the Jewish people” as vaguely referred to in Britain's Balfour Declaration was controversial at the time. This final step would not have been carried out without the support of the US government, which has been strongly lobbied for many years, particularly by the father of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israeli propaganda reached its apogee with the publication of Leon Uris's best-selling novel Exodus in 1958 and his subsequent 1960 hit film starring Paul Newman. The movie's main theme song was recorded by countless artists. The high school choir in the small Midwestern town where I lived couldn't understand Pat Boone's lyrics that began, “This land is mine, God gave it to me.” was singing.
Perhaps the best that can be hoped for at this point is a ceasefire and subsequent efforts by international guarantors towards a two-state solution. However, such a resolution should be considered merely a stepping stone towards a more inclusive and stable final status. It does not reward either warring party, but it charts the only path through which long-term mutual security, peace and prosperity can be achieved. From the river to the sea, we are a nation established as a modern secular democracy in the 21st century, with equal rights for all regardless of status. Religion, ethnicity, ancestry, race, gender.
This goal does not satisfy Hamas or the current extremist Israeli government, both of which have completely lost their legitimacy. There is no other way.
— Steven Jullstrom, Chicago
Israelis support war in Gaza
Columnist Daniel DePetris (“The fallout from Israel's attack on Rafah is terrifying,” May 7) invites you to go back and read his history books, especially those about World War II. The United States bombed German cities and dropped atomic bombs on two Japanese cities, but the United States had no advance notice of these attacks and no plans to assist civilians in the aftermath.
Why is the current war in Gaza different in its aim of eliminating a formidable enemy? During World War II, the humanitarian impact of such an attack was never discussed. Ta.
The Israeli military has sought to avoid civilian casualties.
Gaza is not Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's war. This is supported by Israelis who do not want a Hamas resurgence that will lead to more horrific attacks on them in the future.
For now, Prime Minister Netanyahu is the strong leader needed to end Hamas. Once the war is over, the country will decide whether he remains president.
— Sherwin Doublen, Morton Grove
Ceasefire, hostage release needed
I am Jewish and have always been a fervent supporter of Israel. I mourn, and will continue to mourn, Hamas's unprovoked October 7 attack that killed, raped, burned, and kidnapped innocent people. And I mourn, and continue to mourn, the destruction of Gaza, the loss of innocent Palestinians, and the humanitarian crisis.
After the October 7th attack, the world sympathized with Israel, and now the world is condemning Israel. Israeli leader Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's stated goal is to destroy Hamas. But Hamas is rallying, and Israel's actions are inspiring and radicalizing new generations in the Middle East and elsewhere.
And now Israel has attacked Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians have taken refuge, despite US warnings against such action. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has welcomed U.S. financial and military support, but he has rejected the recommendation. President Joe Biden appeases. Prime Minister Netanyahu ignored him. With US support waning and the tide turning, Netanyahu would be wise to listen.
The time is past for a ceasefire, return of hostages, and negotiation of a long-term solution.
— Eva Holly Berland, Chicago
Lightfoot is unfit to be mayor.
First as finance director for Lori Lightfoot's mayoral campaign, and then as general counsel for the first two or so years of her administration, I have closely followed the mechanics of Lightfoot's campaign and her administration as mayor. I saw it from the inside. Greg Pratt's book, The City Is Up for Grabs: How Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Led and Lost a City in Crisis, explores the turmoil that engulfed her mayoral tenure. accurately details the acrimonious situation.
During her campaign, Lightfoot criticized her predecessor, Rahm Emanuel, as a dictator who lacked transparency. Pratt's book vividly shows that this is exactly how Lightfoot ran the city. She was publicly criticizing the staff and she had no idea how to govern. She had no ability to rally troops or build coalitions. Pratt did a great job of reconstructing the never-ending crisis that Lightfoot herself caused that engulfed her administration. Pratt presents examples of these self-inflicted wounds with precision and, at times, humor.
One example of Lightfoot's policy reversal was her response to the coronavirus pandemic. Initially, she claimed that the media was exaggerating the crisis. Then, after Gov. J.B. Pritzker shut down schools and public events, Lightfoot closed off the lakefront, the only safe outdoor space people quarantining at her home could go to. It was chaos.
Pratt's book is certainly worth a read. It begs the question why Chicagoans, including myself, unfortunately, chose to support and vote for a mayor with no experience in governing or running a $16 billion corporation. Pratt argues that running the nation's third-largest municipality should never be left to amateurs. Pratt argues that the mayor of our beautiful city should not need on-the-job training.
I recommend this book because it educates voters about candidates who should never be elected to occupy the mayor's office.
— Mark A. Flesner, former City Corporate Counsel, Chicago
The editorial gets it wrong about Canada.
I was surprised (that was the nicest word I could think of). I just read his April 26 editorial in my local paper (“Do you want to move to Canada? Think twice, Americans.''), and I was reminded by the Tribune editorial board that I We want you to know that we pledged allegiance to the flag. I became a dual citizen in high school.
Since then, I have worked hard to organize, campaign, write, pursue my Ph.D., and do everything I can to make this country a better country with social justice. A few weeks ago, after turning my red line against President Joe Biden's Palestine policy pink for the umpteenth time, just like him, I tattooed a lily of Saskatchewan (my hometown) on his right wrist. He put it in there and held it up in front of the person. My mirror, my unsworn loyalty to the United States and my oath to Canada.
The editorial affirmed that Canada did not bomb, starve, and kill 34,000 Palestinian men, women, and children, mostly women and children, and that it did not veto or support the UN's call for a ceasefire. It ignores the fact that they have not rejected it.
And in Canada, half the population supports an insane and dangerous narcissist whose three goals are to commit international crimes against immigrants, get re-elected (or take over), and stay out of prison. Not yet.
What was the board thinking?
Yeah, I know, people will say: love it or leave it. But the funny thing is, when I'm sitting in a taxi or at the airport or in a conference room or in another country and people ask me where I'm from, I no longer feel that horrible weight of responsibility, guilt, shame. Ta. I just say Canada.
— Jackie Bruce, River Falls, Wisconsin
Submit a letter of up to 400 words to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
