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Israelis need to find a way to get rid of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. I am not the only Jew who is having trouble sleeping at night because of our despair over the Middle East.
The unbelievable atrocities that Hamas committed Oct. 7 were a complete shock, but so is the way Netanyahu and his right-wing government are conducting this war. I have no sympathy for anyone who chooses to join Hamas. They deserve whatever they get. However, Israel bombing and starving civilians is so antithetical to the values my religion has taught me. That’s not to mention that Hamas’ hostages are also being bombed and starved.
Netanyahu is also destroying Israel’s future. How can anyone in Gaza accept living in peace with Israel now?
Most Israelis were protesting Netanyahu’s government before the attack. War does not make him acceptable. Israelis need to call a general strike.
The United States has tremendous leverage and must use it to force Netanyahu to change his tactics and use more targeted ground attacks and allow food aid for civilians.
I want to stop crying when I watch the news.
— Joyce Porter, Oak Park
Israel has already lost
After the horrific attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, Israel responded with overwhelming force. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to destroy Hamas, even if he has to kill Palestinians to do so.
Civilian Palestinians have suffered more than 20,000 deaths, according to health officials, with tens of thousands more wounded and injured, many of whom face death because they cannot get medical treatment. Israel’s wanton bombing has destroyed 40,000 buildings in Gaza. More than a half million Palestinians in Gaza are facing imminent starvation.
Meanwhile in the West Bank, settlers have attacked Palestinian villages, trashing property, stealing property and threatening the Palestinians who remain there. The Palestinian Authority has proved to be utterly unable to protect its own people.
Israel should recognize it has already lost to Hamas. Hamas has not been destroyed; it has become the voice of the state of Palestine. Israel should know this. Others can certainly see it.
Many people now recognize that this war is continuing for one purpose only — to protect Netanyahu’s personal and political future. As long as Netanyahu is in power, there will be no peace in Israel. Israel should remove him from office and move forward toward a lasting and just peace.
Many slogans are being bandied about: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” which Israelis say represents genocide of the Jewish people, and “Israel from the Nile to the Euphrates,” which others say represents genocide of all Arab people. It’s time for a new approach, one of peace and justice for all, both Palestinian and Israeli. It will not be achieved until Palestinians and Israelis are both equal and under the same justice. An armed Israel and a disarmed Gaza will not lead to peace. Both peoples must be given equal dignity.
Right now, it looks like the goal of justice and peace will not be achieved before many more people on both sides die. It is hoped that one day people will recognize the futility of the war, but right now, that looks like a long way off.
— Frank L. Schneider, Chicago
History will judge the US
In 1938, Nazi Germany annexed a large part of Czechoslovakia. The Czechoslovakians were willing to fight, but they knew doing so would be futile without outside help. France and the United Kingdom abandoned Czechoslovakia, and in due course, the entire country was taken over by Adolf Hitler.
Ukraine is fighting for its survival against Russia, which invaded using the laughable excuse that it needed to protect Russian speakers against Nazism. Menacingly, the Russian propaganda machine is now making similar noises against Latvia, a NATO member the United States is bound by treaty to defend.
Winston Churchill famously addressed the United Kingdom’s prime minister, Neville Chamberlain, with the following after the Munich agreement leaving Czechoslovakia to its dismal fate: “You were given the choice between war and dishonor. You have chosen dishonor and will have war.”
If we fail to support Ukraine, history likely will have the same thing to say about us.
— Elliot Weisenberg, Chicago
Is it too late for Ukraine?
Winston Churchill said, “The United States invariably does the right thing, after having exhausted every other alternative.” Let’s hope we’re not too late for Ukraine.
— Dean Armentrout, Barrington
A smelly Bears experience
My grandson was so excited. He and I were going to attend his first Bears game on Christmas Eve. He asked for this as a present, and I was a bit anxious, I must admit. What joy when we walked through the area where everyone tailgates, the pungent aroma of marijuana wafting throughout the parking lot.
We continued our walk to the stadium continuously smelling that skunklike aroma. As we were watching the game, how joyous that we were still able to be blessed with more of the aroma throughout the game.
This is what a once-beautiful city has become.
Call me a sad grandfather for a time long gone by.
Chicago Tribune Opinion
— Frank Schmidt, New Lenox
Joke op-ed most welcome
Attempting to get through John Williams’ op-ed “My picks for 2023′s top jokes. (No, not our politicians.)” (Dec. 26), I couldn’t stop laughing at all the corny jokes.
My goodness, we need columns like this more often.
— Christine Steffy, McHenry
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