To the editor:

I am Jewish. Most of my family, which includes a few Zionists, is Jewish. I have known Fred Nagel for nearly fifteen years and worked closely with him on many issues including human rights, civil rights, the environment, peace, and the economy. He is compassionate, caring, and has an unquenchable thirst for truth and justice. Fred is a tireless advocate for the rights of the oppressed and the powerless regardless of their religion.

Rabbi Jonathan Kligler's attack on Mr. Nagel is both unfounded and disturbing. It defies logic that Rabbi Kligler would focus on a few words from letters months old rather than the heinous behavior of the State of Israel (supported by the Israeli lobby).

Fred Nagel's words are not the problem. Mr. Nagel's words were strong and provocative, perhaps even inflammatory, and maybe even ill- chosen. But they were words of TRUTH. Anti-Semitism thrives on distortion, deception, lies and myths. Fred Nagel is a truth teller and, as such, is the antithesis of anti- Semitism.

Every time Israel demolishes Palestinian homes, builds illegal settlements, bombs civilians, imprisons or shoots children, steals water and resources, or humiliates and degrades Palestinians at military check-points the flames of anti-Semitism are fanned. The intention of Mr. Nagel's letters seem to be to encourage Israel to stop actions that are, in fact, causing anti-Semitism.

I would humbly suggest that Rabbi Kligler owes Mr. Nagel an apology. I would further suggest a meeting of some kind between Mr. Nagel and Rabbi Kligler in an effort to clear the air and foster an open and honest dialogue. Perhaps Rabbi Kligler could extend an invitation to Mr. Nagel to participate in a forum that would discuss anti- Semitism.

Eli Kassirer