Better Angels

A 10/27 letter from voicer Ephraim Savitt, labelled us “ignorant” and “wrongheaded” because we called on Israel to withdraw from Gaza in return for hostage release. Sadly, his reaction was as predictable as Netanyahu’s knee-jerk response to Hamas’ brutality. What is it Mr. Savitt knows that we don’t, that makes him think this “scorched earth” approach will work any better this time than in the past? Our point was not that Israel should surrender to terrorism. She should never stop hunting these Hamas murderers! Yet she must also act to remove Palestinian suffering as a pretext for that terrorism. The world-wide demonstrations astonishingly supporting Hamas’ bloodthirsty acts show that Israel is foolishly playing right into Hamas’ narrative, while also ensuring the death of most of the hostages. Yitzhak Rabin and Ariel Sharon both realized that Israel needed to change her policies, to embrace “Tikkun Olam” (making the world better). We beg Israel not to miss the opportunity that presents itself in this horrible crisis, despite Mr. Savitt’s misgivings.