The following letter was submitted to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on May 18, 2018.
To the editor:
Your editorial of May 14, 2018, “US Embassy move to Jerusalem gives Israel an undeserved reward,” contains factual inaccuracies and mischaracterizes the unfortunate situation in Gaza. As the tragic situation continues to unfold, we write to express our concerns.
First, the article wrongly terms recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital as a “reward” for the 1967 seizure of Arab East Jerusalem. Israel’s capital has been in West Jerusalem since 1950, after the UN-recognized State of Israel was invaded by six Arab armies and it prevailed in its first defensive war. The US Embassy is also in West Jerusalem. The President continues to leave open the status of East Jerusalem.
Second, the article wrongly links the strife in Gaza to the decision to move the US embassy. Those storming the Israeli border with Gaza have made clear they principally were driven by a desire to reclaim the land they left in 1948, not the embassy move.
Third, while the Jewish community abhors the casualties that occurred in Gaza, your characterization of Israel turning Gaza into a “shooting gallery” was crude and offensive. Hamas, an internationally recognized terror organization, has admitted that the vast majority of those killed were its operatives.
Finally, the Trump Administration’s decision to move the embassy was made for multiple reasons. To attribute the decision solely to influence by one prominent person of the Jewish faith smacks of the tropes of classic anti-Semitism.
As a Jewish community, we welcome healthy debate, pro or con, about the government of Israel, its actions and decisions. However, your editorial transcended reasonable criticism. As the paper of record for our region, the Post-Dispatch owes its readers an apology and correction.
Andrew Rehfeld
President & CEO
Gerald P. Greiman
Board Chair
Dear Editor,
Adding to all his other recent woes, Mr. Trump has now managed to alienate longtime supporter, Pat Robertson.
The 89-year old televangelist was last heard wailing at the president’s illogical decision to pull back US troops from Syria, leaving behind the under-manned, largely Christian Kurds, to fight for their very lives against an overwhelming superior Turkish army.
Congrats, Pat, on seeing the light. If only more members of the ministry opposed our morally bankrupt leader maybe we could all sleep better at night – especially those courageous crusaders we so callously abandoned.