Readers sound off on a three-state solution, fare-beating fixes and talk shows

A solution must reflect on-the-ground realities

North Bergen, N.J.: The reason a conventional two-state solution, while well-intentioned, can not work should be obvious. The West Bank and Gaza are not contiguous. To consider them a single, unified Palestinian state would foster the demand for a land bridge across Israel to connect the two parts. Israel could never agree to being cut in two.

A single Palestinian Authority based in the West Bank can not be expected to govern both parts fairly. It’s because of the West Bank’s inability to properly govern Gaza that Hamas took root. What’s needed is a three-state solution along the lines of the Pakistan-Bangladesh partition. Recognizing that Gaza needs to be independent from the West Bank would be the first step.

The next step would be to recognize the legitimacy of the West Bank with the understanding that residents of existing Jewish settlements in the territory will no longer be recognized as citizens of Israel, but as citizens of the new state with the same rights and privileges currently enjoyed by Arabs living in Israel. Of course, any settlers who would prefer to be Israeli citizens rather than citizens of the new West Bank state should be allowed to return to Israel.

Further, the battle with Hamas and Hezbollah should not be Israel’s alone. Terrorist groups have been operating with impunity from states and territories like Yemen, Gaza and the West Bank, it is because Arab states and territories have shown themselves to be either unable, unwilling or more likely afraid to close the terrorist bases on their land that terrorism continues. Finally the burden of a ceasefire should not be Israel’s alone to bear. For any ceasefire to be effective, Hamas and Hezbollah must agree to it in good faith with the understanding that they begin providing for the needs of the civilians in Gaza rather than rearming. Irving A. Gelb

Lesson lament

Pine Plains, N.Y.: What ever happened to all the adults in New York City schools? NYC school principal Terri Grey has set up a systemwide call for teachers to share lessons on the history of the Israeli occupation and genocide in Palestine. She has put together a panel of legal experts to combat censorship and foster “justice and healing” in the schools. To start with, this idiot should learn the definition of genocide, which Israel is decidedly not guilty of. People like her have no place in the city schools. All they do is twist and distort children’s views on the world by promoting their hate-filled lies. It is time for the adults to take back charge and throw out the trash. Joseph McCluskey

Makes you think

Astoria: After watching the Netflix documentary “The Greatest Night in Pop,” I ask myself: What the hell happened to us? Every individual on this planet Earth needs to look at themselves in the mirror while listening to the lyrics of “We Are the World.” The words “we can’t go on pretending day by day” say it all. Aris Sakellaridis

Job well done

Huntington Station, L.I.: This letter is long overdue, but I wanted to be sure that I wrote a glowing report for our Daily News deliveryman, William Zimmer III. This gentleman is so efficient and diligent, unlike many of the delivery people we have had in the past. Every morning, like clockwork, our paper is on the driveway as it is supposed to be. If there is ever an issue, he will correspond to let us know. His personal touch — with little notes now and again about his helpful “elf” truly brightens our day. So, thank you, Mr. Zimmer, for your reliable and wonderful service each day. You are one of the things we count as a blessing in our lives. Nancy Macri Kennedy

New era

Rocky Point, L.I.: Years ago, the phrase “cornhole” was a sex act. Now, “cornhole” is a sport game. Times have changed. This fact is from myself, a 90-year-old man. Al Glass

One wish

Bethpage, L.I.: If I click my heels three times, can we send Taylor Swift back to the “Land of Oz”? Richie Peterson

Pie in the sky

Staten Island: To Voicer Paul Backalenick: Stop the crime of fare-beating? Solution: Make the fare free? Just like making pot legal? How is that working out? What next, no penalties for rape, murder or arson? Spoken like a true communist. Make big business pay for everything. The evil corporations are the cause of all of society’s problems? Wake up. If you take away all the laws, there won’t be any for people to break. The typical commie solution: Tax the rich, tax the corporations, make everything for the people free. When pigs fly. Why do I get the feeling that you are just a person who depends on the public transportation system but has the scruples not to jump the turnstile, but is rightly irate when he sees dozens of miscreants do it. Keep your chin up, better days are coming. Alfred Lebrio

Not replicable

Freeport, L.I.: Before the Metropolitan Transportation Authority crows too loudly about a 20% reduction of fare-beaters at its Sutphin Blvd-JFK E and J train station, perhaps it should address flaws in the study of new gates being tested there. Business takes me through that station at odd hours on a regular basis. Invariably, at least two MTA workers in Day-Glo vests are posted at the turnstiles as well as two to four transit cops. With so much personnel guarding that stop, the real surprise of the study is that there are any fare-beaters. Posting such a cohort of workers at all 470 subway stations would surely reduce fare-beating, but likely would generate personnel costs far exceeding the additional fares collected. Fare-beating is further lowered by the removal of emergency exits, an untenable solution for the public safety hazard that would create in a true emergency. Bob Sterner

Good stuff

Elmhurst: Thank you, Daily News, for your food drive from Oct. 24 to Jan. 12. Thank you for your kind compassion running a full-page advertisement every day inviting readers to help and be of service to our neighbors. Also, thank you, Rick Detorie, fantastic cartoon artist for the excellent comic strip “One Big Happy.” Your characters — Ruthie, her dog Willie, Joe, mom, dad, etc. — are beautifully created, fabulous and fun. Please keep up your wonderful work. Vince Burger

Family-friendly

Jacksonville, Fla.: Whatever happened to TV talk show hosts who actually earned their multimillion-dollar contracts? For example, Post-Regis Philbin, Kelly Ripa and her hubby Mark Consuelos from “LIVE With Kelly & Mark” only work three days a week now! Every Thursday and Friday is a not-live, pre-recorded show! Since Kelly’s show became nepotism-heavy (with her husband as co-host and executive producer Michael Gelman’s wife and daughter persistently on the show), this crew has become nothing but one big happy family of multimillion-dollar grabbers! What ever happened to true TV personalities who are actually dedicated to their jobs? Carl Hafner

Dirty drink

Bayside: Comic strips depicting a dog drinking out of a toilet bowl — I am not a fan of that unspeakable practice. I’m hoping that dog owners never allow this. Please! Sarah Alboher

Disagreeable

Manhattan: Will the Daily News ever stop printing the idiotic nonsense that spews from the pen of Voicer Bob Pascarella? He uses the most ridiculous terms. What is a “postmodern liberal?” He calls others “hedonistic,” but I think cheating on three wives and paying off porn stars is pretty hedonistic. We all know you print Pascarella’s drivel to rile up your readers, but his screeds are absurd. Donald Trump is not “patriotic.” Patriotic leaders don’t try to overthrow their own 250-year-old government. They don’t cheat business partners or the IRS. They don’t have their charities shuttered for fraud, and they don’t get fined millions for libel. They don’t store stolen, top-secret documents in their bathrooms. They don’t try to extort votes from governors. Criticizing politicians is not “hate,” it’s simply political criticism. I enjoy reading the Voice of the People, but I am so tired of Pascarella’s juvenile, high-school girl crush on the odious, traitorous, foul-mouthed Donald Trump. Sam Katz