FACTS ARE FACTS, MR. FRIEDMAN
Sadly, and contrary to Mr. Friedman’s contentions, Fred Nagel’s list of Israeli atrocities that are supported by US tax dollars, are facts [“LETTER: U.S. seniors should be happy to sacrifice their benefits for Israel,” by Fred Nagel, Dec. 18, 2015]. And they are readily verifiable by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, B’Tselem (The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories) and other organizations.
Mr. Nagel, however, left out the day to day nightmare of life under the Israeli occupation – roads on which Palestinians are not allowed to travel; confiscation of their land; demolition of their homes; checkpoints that make movement difficult or impossible; harassment by settlers; middle of the night Israeli Occupying Forces break-ins to terrorize families and arrest children; constant humiliation, etc.. The clear intention is to make Palestinian lives miserable AS A POLICY OF THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT.
Were it any other country than Israel, Mr. Friedman would call it like it is – an illegal and brutal occupation but, since Israel is the perpetrator it is, for him, justifiable. You can agree with Israel’s policy or disagree, call it genocide or not, but facts are facts, and to pretend otherwise is simply ignorance or lies. In either case, it is inexcusable.
Judith Simon