Spring Break
Letters To The Editor
Issue date: 11/16/07 Section: Commentary
I have been to Sderot. I have heard the siren announcing that a rocket will fall in less than 15 seconds. The scary part for me is that now, although it is only a few weeks after my visit to Sderot and being exposed to Kassam attacks, I didn't even think twice about what my friend said. Horrifying and scary Kassam attacks are a daily routine for my friend and the residents of Sderot. They live in fear of dying each day. Perhaps equally scary is the fact that I accept this news as normal and almost routine. And that I do nothing about it. And I know that this is true for many other people.
Fortunately my story ended well. Five minutes later, I picked up the phone and called my friend back. Thank God he answered.
-David Fain
UConn Class of '06
Currently Living in Israel
Addressing Misunderstanding Of Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
My name is Michael Rosenblit. I was born and raised in West Hartford, CT. After graduating high school, I moved to Israel and joined a combat unit in the Israeli Defense Force. I have just recently completed my enlistment and am back in town to visit.
The other day I was reading The Daily Campus when I came upon Jake Hess's misguided article "The Truth About the Israeli-Palestinian 'Peace Process,'" In his editorial, Mr. Hess blatantly depicts only one side of the story.
The beginning of the article mentions a notorious wall being built in Israel. I served in the areas of Tul Karem and Kalkilia. Jayyus is near Kalkilia and I have been to Jayyus several times. There is no wall there, only a fence. Not too far from Jayyus, the fence becomes a wall near Kalkilia, where a main road runs. Israelis have been killed on this central highway by terrorists and so the need for a wall in that area is essential for survival. Wile the fence near Jayyus does leave Palestinian farms on the Israeli side of the fence, it doesn't prevent farmers from working their land. There are gates in the fence near Jayyus and all along the length of the entire security fence, specifically made to allow farmers to continue to work their lands. Israeli soldiers risk their lives every day at these gates to make sure that Palestinians continue to feed their families. While it's true that terror attacks were at their lowest in 2006 (thanks to the IDF), attempts to commit terrorism were higher than previous years. In addition, Hess's statement about illegal Israeli settlements is erroneous. Whoever makes such claims as illegal Jewish settlements in the West Bank ignores Articles 2, 4 and 6 of the Mandate for Palestine, which give unlimited immigration and national rights to Jews in the territory between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.
Still, even if the above were untrue, it would not justify Palestinian terror. Israel has left Gaza, dismantled outposts and several settlements in the West Bank and released many Palestinian prisoners. Hess chooses to rant about the injustice towards Palestinian farmers and to ignore Israel's constant effort to create a safe and peaceful environment. If his aim is to promote peace in Israel, he should be aware that such rants are hardly conducive to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
- Michael Rosenblit
West Hartford Resident
Fortunately my story ended well. Five minutes later, I picked up the phone and called my friend back. Thank God he answered.
-David Fain
UConn Class of '06
Currently Living in Israel
Addressing Misunderstanding Of Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
My name is Michael Rosenblit. I was born and raised in West Hartford, CT. After graduating high school, I moved to Israel and joined a combat unit in the Israeli Defense Force. I have just recently completed my enlistment and am back in town to visit.
The other day I was reading The Daily Campus when I came upon Jake Hess's misguided article "The Truth About the Israeli-Palestinian 'Peace Process,'" In his editorial, Mr. Hess blatantly depicts only one side of the story.
The beginning of the article mentions a notorious wall being built in Israel. I served in the areas of Tul Karem and Kalkilia. Jayyus is near Kalkilia and I have been to Jayyus several times. There is no wall there, only a fence. Not too far from Jayyus, the fence becomes a wall near Kalkilia, where a main road runs. Israelis have been killed on this central highway by terrorists and so the need for a wall in that area is essential for survival. Wile the fence near Jayyus does leave Palestinian farms on the Israeli side of the fence, it doesn't prevent farmers from working their land. There are gates in the fence near Jayyus and all along the length of the entire security fence, specifically made to allow farmers to continue to work their lands. Israeli soldiers risk their lives every day at these gates to make sure that Palestinians continue to feed their families. While it's true that terror attacks were at their lowest in 2006 (thanks to the IDF), attempts to commit terrorism were higher than previous years. In addition, Hess's statement about illegal Israeli settlements is erroneous. Whoever makes such claims as illegal Jewish settlements in the West Bank ignores Articles 2, 4 and 6 of the Mandate for Palestine, which give unlimited immigration and national rights to Jews in the territory between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.
Still, even if the above were untrue, it would not justify Palestinian terror. Israel has left Gaza, dismantled outposts and several settlements in the West Bank and released many Palestinian prisoners. Hess chooses to rant about the injustice towards Palestinian farmers and to ignore Israel's constant effort to create a safe and peaceful environment. If his aim is to promote peace in Israel, he should be aware that such rants are hardly conducive to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
- Michael Rosenblit
West Hartford Resident
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