News Reader.info

Re “Who’s afraid of the ‘Israel Lobby’?” Current, March 26 Nicholas Goldberg summarizes the arguments that the report on the “Israel Lobby” made against supporting Israel (arguments mostly

identified with historical anti-Semitism) and, while mentioning some opposing points of view, ignores the most important reason: An ever-increasing number of the American people support

Israel as compared to the Muslim world. We share the same values. Of all of the United States’ allies, Israel is the only one that can and will fight its own battles and not call on the

American military to die for them. The fact that former Ku Klux Klansman David Duke is in agreement with the report says a great deal. JERRY FREEDMAN _Los Angeles_ * Goldberg asks us to

judge the American Israel Public Affairs Committee for ourselves and to consider just how pernicious the pro-Israel lobby is. To test AIPAC’s strength, a candidate who publicly demands that

Israel sign the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, stop building its wall, withdraw unconditionally from all lands occupied during the 1967 war and allow a democratic Palestinian state to be

formed immediately should run for office. Would either the Republican or Democratic parties run such a candidate? No. If either party made that mistake, the loose confederation of

organizations to which Goldberg alluded would contribute funds to defeat such a candidate. The likelihood of this scenario happening is zilch. I consider AIPAC’s impact pernicious because it

crushes politically anyone who publicly challenges Israel. ARCH MILLER _Arcadia_ * Historically, Jews, in order to survive, have kept a low profile, and I would think Goldberg is well aware

of that. Goldberg needlessly reiterates professors Stephen Walt’s and John Mearsheimer’s statements. Those of us who are concerned and follow events are quite aware of the statements and

don’t need Goldberg’s advice as to how to judge. The truth is simple: The U.S. needs Israel as a balance of power and foothold in the Middle East, and American Jews need Israel to protect

the survival and identity of Jews. Perhaps Goldberg can use half a page to address these issues. MAYER GERSON _Northridge_ * If, as professors Jeffrey Herf and Andrei Markovits note, Jewish

Americans have the right “to express their views without being charged with placing the interests of Israel ahead of those of the United States,” why don’t non-Jewish Americans have the

right to criticize the Israeli lobby without being called anti-Semites? PAUL CIOTTI _Los Angeles_ MORE TO READ