Readers sound off on Netanyahu apologists, choosing Trump and gas bills

Loyalty to Netanyahu betrays true Jewish values

Brooklyn: Rabbi Avi Weiss (“Chuck Schumer’s cowardly courage,” op-ed, March 21) unfairly and shamefully attacked New York’s Sen. Chuck Schumer, a longtime friend of Israel who is often at odds with his fellow liberals and progressive Democrats, including former President Barack Obama, who would offer mild criticism of that country’s brutality toward and occupation of Palestinian lands. I count myself in that category opposed to the senator’s prior positions.

It was shocking, however, to read that opinion piece by a distinguished man of religion whose mission is to teach his fellow Jews the biblical messages of empathy, humanity and peace. Instead, he echoed the war-mongering, hateful ideologues of the right that wasted no time in ganging up on the senator for his truly courageous statement that Benjamin Netanyahu, the perpetrator of crimes against humanity who is hated even by his own countrymen, must go.

Contrary to Weiss’s complaint, Schumer’s statement was not against Israel but against Netanyahu and his right-wing, extremist government that advocates the total destruction and starvation of a people. His complaint that Schumer is interfering in the internal affairs of Israel rings false given that AIPAC, the agent of a foreign government, is spending millions to interfere in American elections.

Finally, not one word by Weiss about the intentional killing of more than 30,000 innocent Gazan citizens, mostly women and children. Fortunately, most American Jews do care and speak out against such atrocities. As several other rabbis who are true to their calling recently declared: “Genocide is not a Jewish value.” George Albro, founder and co-chair, New York Progressive Action Network

Anti-Israel agendas

Cincinnati: There is a wing of the Democratic Party that is openly anti-Israel. It is centered around a few Democratic representatives who have mooted support for elimination of Israel and replacement by a binational state that would eventually have a Muslim Palestinian majority; this would smother Jewish Palestinians by sheer numbers and is a nonstarter for obvious reasons. The Biden administration accepts that Israel must remain an independent Jewish homeland but insists that an antisemitic Muslim state be established right next to it, thus laying the ground for recurrent existential wars against Israel. This is also a nonstarter and is where President Biden irrationally confronts a rational, albeit relatively weak, Israel. We shall see what happens if Biden is defeated in his reelection quest. Paul Bloustein

Long-term strategy

Bay Shore, L.I.: Am I the only one who sees that what is going on in Gaza is just another chapter in the Zionist plan to steal all of Palestine? Chapter 1 was in 1948, when the United Nations, with the help of England and the United States, gave them much of Palestine. Since then, the Zionists have taken other areas from the rightful owners. As soon as they complete the takeover of Gaza, they will surely take over the West Bank. To those who will state that all the Zionists are doing is taking back that which was once theirs, I ask you: How would you feel if the UN decided to give Long Island (the complete island) back to the Native Americans who used to live here? Would you be fine with that? I don’t think so. John Williams

AOC agenda

Omaha: Would love to see an article on AOC and investigate her “earmark” proposals and passages. I know she would not get reelected. Tom Dahulick

Where credit is due

Commack, L.I.: You missed crediting the photographer whose work was featured in Friday’s edition on page 16 regarding the art collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys at the Brooklyn Museum. The image was shot by Kwame Brathwaite, a photojournalist and activist, and a notable graduate of the High School of Art and Design, class of 1955. While Brathwaite passed away on April 1, 2023, his work continues to impress and inspire. Yvonne Fitzner

Tragic result

Clearwater, Fla.: Re “Laken Riley’s father ‘angry’ her death has been politicized” (March 18): It’s a sad day in America when a man who lost his daughter because of the negligent immigration laws of President Biden is begging Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp to detain and deport criminal illegals to keep innocent Americans safe. No one should be urging elected officials to take common-sense measures. If the wrong person had not been elected, nursing student Riley would still be alive. Come November, we need to elect real leaders who have common sense and will uphold the laws to keep America safe. We need people who do not criminalize victims and won’t apologize to killers for using the wrong wording to describe them. Let’s make America great again and safe again, and fire our current president. America needs Donald Trump. JoAnn Lee Frank

Age exemption

Bayonne: I do believe that there has to be an age limit for anyone who runs for political office. You have to be at least 35 to run for president. Once you reach 75, you should not be able to run for any political office. However, this election is so important that we need Trump to win to save our nation from these far-left Marxists. Bob Manning

Picked a loser

Linden, N.J.: Republicans are making the mistake of voting for the person they want instead of the person the country wants. A poll from Marquette Law School found that in a general election matchup against Joe Biden, Nikki Haley would win by 16 points (58-42%). Trump would only beat Biden by two points (51-49%). If the Republicans lose, it’ll be their own fault for picking the wrong candidate. Ron Jackowski

Desperate decision

Manhattan: My first time voting for a Republican is fast approaching — Donald Trump, a morally and financially bankrupt con artist. Why? Well, because the woke Democrats, like AOC and Alvin Bragg, have made NYC a hellhole. Open borders have led to migrants coming into NYC to get everything for free. U.S. citizens have a harder time accessing social services than people who never paid a dime into the system. Rampant crime and Bragg’s inability to prosecute — I can’t leave out Mayor Adams, who seems more comfortable calling the Bling Bishop a dear friend and expediting favors for deep-pocketed Turkish developers. I will feel safer to walk the streets with Trump back as president. I never in my life thought it would get so demoralizing to be a Democrat. Patricia Clark

Individualism

Yaphank, L.I.: Four years of COVID, big deal. I have had type 1 diabetes since 1977 with no cure in sight. Cancer hasn’t been cured. It never will be, along with all of the other diseases and problems that exist and will always be there. Stupidity and know-it-all attitudes will never change, like the incompetence of Biden, Gov. Hochul, Hillary Clinton, Chuck Schumer and Barack Obama, just to name a few. Less government in our daily lives and more personal responsibility is needed. Richard Angione

Better off

Wellfleet, Mass.: Considering former President Trump’s past business bankruptcies and that he is having trouble getting the cash for his $454 million bond in his New York civil fraud case, I imagine that millions of people in this country have something Trump doesn’t have: a good credit rating. Mike Rice

HEAT-ho

Manhattan: To Voicer Dan Correa: I’m outraged by my gas bill too! Con Ed isn’t allowed to profit from selling us gas, but New York subsidizes gas companies all over the state to build more pipelines, whether we need them or not, and charge us these outrageous service fees for doing it. The NY HEAT (Home Affordable Energy Transition) Act, which gas companies have been lobbying hard against, would change these outdated regulations that cost us money, and would cap our gas bills at 6% of income. Thanks to Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the measure has passed the Senate session after session, but Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie can’t get with the program. Gov. Hochul is all for changing the pipeline regulations, but not for seriously saving us money. When it’s time for these three to get in a room with this year’s budget, they better get NY HEAT right. Laurie Aron

Always on time

Staten Island: My 72-year-old superman Daily News delivery person, John Pietrangelo, presents my News 366 days, like clockwork, consistently between 2:45 and 3:15 a.m. What a guy! Douglas P. Baker