Letter: Fact-Checking Kass Column

May 31, 2021

Letters to the Editor
Boulder Jewish News

Dear Editor,

If you want to produce a column urging Jews in Israel to be more humane to the Arabs, it would help if you get someone who respects the facts.  (“Saving Israel From Herself,” May 27, 2021.) There have been no Arabs evicted from their homes in Jerusalem. There is a land dispute before Israel’s Supreme Court that has not yet been adjudicated.

Let’s move on to your accusation that Israel controls the daily lives of the Palestinians. Let me tell you about a Palestinian woman patient who went to an Israel hospital, received treatment, was cured and discharged. Two weeks later she came back to the hospital for a checkup wearing an explosive vest that she planned to detonate. This woman is not an isolated case. Israel has elaborate security measures to protect their citizens Arab and Jew alike. Is Ed Kass advocating that all security measures be dismantled so Jews will not be accused of controlling Palestinian lives? That kind of oversensitivity would cost lives. Thank G-d Israel is not listening to that advice. 

I just can’t leave without addressing Kass’s foolish accusation that Israelis destroy Palestinian olive groves. There is video evidence that Palestinians cut down their own trees and then blame Israeli settlers who thanks to a very effective demonization program have been turned into the epitome of evil apparently even in Boulder. Please get your hands on these videos and issue an apology to Israel and the Jews for spreading Palestinian blood libel propaganda about them.

Sincerely yours,

Larry Shapiro,
Calgary, Alberta Canada