Israel

Over the strenuous objections of the U.S. and Israel, the United Nations General Assembly voted today to grant nonmember observer status to a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza. The U.N. action, which was widely anticipated, was largely a symbolic move that does nothing to change the situation on the ground or lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. But it does raise international pressure on Israel to show it is serious about reaching a negotiated settlement, while allowing Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to claim a historic advance in his people's quest for global recognition.

During his campaign for re-election, Rep. Chris Van Hollen from Maryland's 8th District claimed that he was a "friend of Israel. " He even took out a full-page ad in the Washington Jewish Weekly just a few days before the Nov. 6 election claiming that he always stood in strong support of Israel. Mr. Van Hollen also claimed he supported the Iron Dome missile defense system that the Israelis used with great success to shoot down an Iranian-made Fajr-5 missile that was launched against Tel Aviv by Hamas and Hezbollah out of Gaza.

The tragedies in Gaza and Israel pained me. The reckless attack of civilians is morally reprehensible regardless if it's done by Israel or Hamas. Of course, Israel's assault on civilians was so out of line and disproportionate, one has to wonder how human beings can behave this way. Our government should stop funding the occupation and use the $3.5 billion tax dollars given to Israel each year to instead rebuild U.S. infrastructure. G. Jefferson Price III made an excellent point in his commentary ("For Israel, it's different this time," Nov. 20)

While reading G. Jefferson Price's column ("For Israel, it's different this time," Nov. 20), I was reminded of the quip "learned nothing, forgot nothing" describing a reactionary French royal family. Mr. Price displays the same distorted views toward Israel he showed 35 years ago when he was The Sun's Middle East correspondent, intervening events not budging his attitudes. According to Mr. Price, Israel "acts with impunity" against Palestinian Arabs and Lebanon. Unmentioned are thousands of Israeli casualties, two Arab uprisings, withdrawals from Gaza, Lebanon and major portions of the West Bank.

Two of the more common falsehoods that beset much of what passes for "analysis" of the current conflict between Hamas and Israel are exemplified in the Nov. 20 commentaries of Zainab Chaudry ("In Gaza, the powerless multitudes suffer") and G. Jefferson Price III ("For Israel, it's different this time"). Ms. Chaudry's falsehood of choice is moral equivalency. After deviously claiming that Israel is targeting military operatives and infrastructures in Gaza "in response to reports of rocket strikes in its territory" (as if the 900 rockets fired by Hamas into Israel since the beginning of 2012 were unconfirmed rumors that still await verification)

Op-ed contributor G. Jefferson Price III ("For Israel, it's different this time," Nov. 20) alleges that "Israeli leaders have consistently obstructed and resisted arrangements that would have brought a dignified peace to the region. " As in 2000 and 2001, when with the United States, Israel offered Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat a West Bank and Gaza Strip state with eastern Jerusalem as its capital in exchange for peace - but he refused and launched the second intifada? As in 2001, when Israel and the United States repeated the deal, but Arafat continued the terror war?

In the film "Groundhog Day," Bill Murray wakes up each morning and relives the previous day. A similar scenario is playing out in the Middle East between Israel and her enemies. The deadly "movie" always goes like this: Israel is shelled or attacked by terrorists groups, often called "militants" by the media, each one with the same goal: Israel's elimination. After demonstrating considerable restraint of the kind that would never be tolerated by any other nation, Israel fires back.

Has there ever been another nation that calls on its enemy to vacate the premises targeted for an air strike, as Israel has done in Gaza? After 10,000 rockets launched from Gaza into civilian areas over the last several years, Israel has finally had enough. What would America do to protect its citizens from such a prolonged barrage? Molly Koch

The Israel Lacrosse Association has announced that former Johns Hopkins All-American Mark Greenberg will serve as defensive assistant coach of the Israel national team that will compete in the 2014 Federation of International Lacrosse Men's World Championship. The championship will be held at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo., from July 10-19, 2014. “Adding a second Hall of Fame resume to our coaching staff really strengthens what we're trying to achieve,” said Israel Lacrosse general manager Howard Borkan.

More than seven years after Israel withdrew from Gaza in exchange for peace, we stand today faced with increased rocket fire from Hamas (an organization that is on the U.S. State Department list of foreign terrorist organizations). In the past 12 years, over 12,000 rockets have been fired from Gaza into Israel. In the past year, over 800 rockets have been fired from Gaza into Israel. In the past five days, over 150 rockets have been fired from Gaza into Israel. I propose a simple question with a complex answer: When is it enough?