Readers sound off on criticism of Israel, COVID costs and disappeared mailboxes

When did it become so wrong to support Israel?

Brooklyn: The massive deaths in Gaza are unquestionably terrible. But to dismiss the causes and point to Israel and its American supporters as the aggressors is to completely obscure the reality of the war. Terms like settler, occupation and genocide are thrown about with impunity but are inaccurate to the history and circumstances surrounding Israel and Hamas.

This history has been explained before so I will not repeat it, but as for the present day, it is Hamas that uses civilians as human shields and builds military installations underneath schools and hospitals. They started this war in the most calculated and brutal way possible and have succeeded in gaining manipulated and misguided sympathy. Israel is fighting for survival and can not let Hamas win or there will be a genocide — of half the world’s Jewish population.

Where are the calls for Hamas to surrender? Why is there no pressure from the massive Arab world for Hamas to release the hostages or to stop using their fellow Arabs as cannon fodder? Money from Qatar and other Arab states pours into American public schools and private universities in support of Hamas, but when Jewish organizations like AIPAC press for support for Israel, they are maligned as if it is wrong for American Jews to care about the fate of our brothers and sisters in Israel.

Hamas is winning the war of public relations — and destroying Gaza in the process. Lee Crespi

Predicting history

Calgary, Alberta: Voicer John Woodmaska is perfectly correct about the inappropriate response by the U.S.A. to 9/11. Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11, and invading it to seize its nonexistent weapons of mass destruction was a macho move, not a strategic one. On the other hand, Israel’s response to the Palestinian invasion of Southern Israel was the appropriate response to the mutilation, rape and burning of Israelis. In time, Israel’s war strategy will be studied in military schools as the most innovative campaign in military history. It will also be discovered that the huge numbers of women and children reported killed was totally bogus, that the majority of deceased were Hamas fighters. Larry Shapiro

Sidestepping statements

Monroe, N.J.: I was rooting for Nikki Haley to be a voice of reason among the Three Republican Amigos. However, her statements that she feels the future dictator is “innocent until proven guilty” in the sexual harassment trial of E. Jean Carroll and that she hasn’t “paid attention” to his cases has made me question her intelligence or motives. Nikki, he was found liable, and I would expect you to be prepared when facing questions about your opponents. She still agrees that the future dictator has been unfairly targeted. Still covering for him for perhaps a vice president offer? Or she just “hasn’t paid attention” to his trials — even a sexual harassment case? There goes any hope of the women’s vote. Either way, she has shown she is not a serious, viable candidate for president. Maybe just remain part of the Three Stooges instead. Katherine A. Moloney

State control

Staten Island: In the last debate, Florida’s Ron DeSantis said that his state is free of government telling the people what to do. Huh! Well, I guess he forgot that in Florida, the state tells you what you can or can’t read with books that are banned. Whatever happened to parental decisions for their children? Before that, don’t say the “gay” word — I guess we can’t sign Christmas cards “Happy and gay.” The latest: A Florida state senator wants to make it a crime to call someone a racist. But forget about all of the above. Just remember what the governor said: Florida is a free state. Mark Tarasiewicz

No accountability

Glendale: Isn’t it strange how at first, Donald Trump’s son, daughter and son-in-law were all questioned about money-related charges, including being involved with Russia and China? Then Trump was indicted on so many different charges that you can’t count them, including for what he said on Jan. 6. He told his people to go to the Capitol and that he was right behind them — which, of course, he wasn’t. He was also impeached. I can’t understand how someone who was indicted and impeached can be allowed to run for office again. Only Trump can argue with a judge and walk out of the courtroom. Money talks and the rich man walks. Laurel Turnbull

Preserve freedom

Jamaica: A message for all Republicans, Democrats and Independents: If you don’t want our democracy, move to Russia or North Korea where there is none. If Trump gets back in, that’s the way it will be. He already told you he wants to be a dictator. Take him at his word. There will be no more voting, and other things will be taken away. Our democracy gives us freedom, which other countries don’t have. God bless America and our democracy! Charlene Black

Itching for a contender

Warwick, R.I.: Is it time to commit to a single nominee, or should we wait closer to the November election? Dynamic world events, economic uncertainty, civil unrest and the unstoppable surge in migrants should be considered as to which candidate offers the best solutions. This year’s election may be one of the most important challenges, as whoever we elect will be immediately faced with the uncertainty of a severe recession, expanding regional wars, unacceptable increase in the national budget and civil unrest with serious disruptions of travel and public accessibility. Not only do we need to elect a strong and resilient candidate but hopefully, he or she will have the support of many new faces in Congress. New solutions will need to be formulated, proposed and enacted into law, as time will not be in our favor. Current concerns require us to study both national parties. Bob Sweeney

No good option

Bronx: This jerk in the White House and the ex-president egomaniac are the best we have to choose from? Jonathan Blanchard

Seasonably cold

Mineola, L.I.: The virtually nationwide record cold snap begets the constant failure of our climate-control protectors to recognize record cold and record snowfall. It’s virtually always global warming. At the end of the day, climate change is like COVID — though it exists, there’s lots of exaggeration from our friends on the left. Dan Swiecki

Left in the lurch

Valley Stream, L.I.: I really don’t understand why we can’t get free COVID tests from Medicare anymore and why my husband had to pay $134.08 for his COVID treatment prescription Lagevrio, when the governor can come up with $2.4 billion for the migrant crisis. Charity begins at home, or so I thought. I really feel badly about what is happening in this country. Good luck to us senior citizens. I guess charging this huge sum of money for the COVID prescription is the way the government is recovering its money for the free at-home test kits. Fran Esposito

Missing mailboxes?

Bronx: In the last month, I noticed that at least four mailboxes in my Morris Park neighborhood have been removed by the Post Office without any explanation. Is there a reason for this? Have residents in other neighborhoods noticed that some of their local mailboxes, which have been in their locations for many decades, are no longer there? If not, then why is this happening only in Morris Park? Dimitri Cavalli

Misallocations

Yonkers: The blatherskite duo of Gov. Hochul and Mayor Adams, reprising again their collective clown show, have presented their latest budgets. While billions are provided to the immigrants who have besieged New York City and state, Hochul, Adams and every other leftist Democrat stomp and scream that Washington provide N.Y. with more funding, yet not one Democrat has the political courage to tell President Biden to do the only thing that will solve the problem: Close the border! No mention either of the untold billions of dollars lost due to their failure to truly reform the baleful criminal justice and bail laws that continue to allow sanguinary criminals unabated opportunity to terrorize the law-abiding public. These budgets are a disaster even before the far-left Legislature gets its nocuous hands on it. James McCaffrey