November 8, 2017: Another reason to like Ike

Our readers weigh in.

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Updated: NOVEMBER 7, 2017 21:42
Letters (photo credit: REUTERS)
Letters
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Another reason to like Ike
I commend Daniel Kra for posting the archived 1952 report of David Ben-Gurion’s message to Dwight D. Eisenhower on the latter’s election as president of the United States (From Our Archives, November 7). I am one who remembers that election very well.
Eisenhower has a special place in Jewish history that few are aware of. An order he issued as supreme commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces had extraordinary consequences for the Jewish people.
After the end of World War II, there was a great push by the Allied victors to “rehabilitate” the large numbers of refugees found in Germany and in countries that had been occupied by the Nazis.
They were sent back to their country of origin, losing their status as displaced persons as well as the special benefits that this status brought them.
When the first Jews returned to their original homes, they not only encountered antisemitism, but also pogroms and murder. They sought to return to the DP camps they had left, but were refused, as they had been “rehabilitated” and no longer were considered displaced persons.
When the reports of pogroms and murder reached Eisenhower, he issued an order stating that “rehabilitated” Jews were to be welcomed back to the DP camps in the American zone of Germany, with all their previous rights restored.
This was not the case for rehabilitated non-Jews, who could not return. Also excluded were Jews who went to Palestine and wished to return to the DP camps for the benefits.
Because of this exclusion, I assume that there were some who attempted to do this. Of course, Eisenhower’s order did not apply to the French or British zones of occupation. Therefore, one finds that a large majority of the survivors of the Holocaust were located in the zone occupied by the American forces.
SHALOM BRONSTEIN
Jerusalem
David an embarrassment
With regard to “Larry David makes cringeworthy Holocaust joke” (November 6), the actor and comedian seems to feel the need to ingratiate himself with the non-Jewish community by marginalizing the Holocaust. In so doing, he is opening the door for deniers to further their own dark agenda.
Mr. David is an embarrassment to our people and, indeed, mankind.
IRWIN DIAMOND
Downsview, Ontario
Prominent placement
The outstanding photo of an Arab volunteer and a Jewish volunteer at United Hatzalah praying together (“United for a single cause,” November 6) should have graced your front page in larger form. The caption should also have stated that Israel is accused of being racist and an “apartheid” nation.
Foreign papers, please copy.
MICHAEL PLASKOW
Netanya
Trump and climate
It is significant that on November 6 you published the Reuters article “27 dead as floods sweep into Vietnam” directly below “Chinese looking to grasp climate leadership following US pullout” (International News), while in the Business & Finance section you published “Slash emissions faster, climate experts urge,” with the experts warning that “countries urgently need to step up their ambitions to cut emissions if they are to keep global warming within safe limits.”
The tragedy in Vietnam is just the latest severe climate event that appears to be happening at least weekly while US President Donald Trump and most congressional Republicans are in denial about climate change, seemingly doing everything possible to destroy all the recent efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Many Jerusalem Post readers seem to support Trump because they believe he is good for Israel, despite his failure to carry out his promise to move the US embassy to Jerusalem and his pressuring Israel regarding the expansion of settlements. They ignore how Trump’s failure to address climate threats can be harmful to Israel.
Israel is now in its third year of drought. The Sea of Galilee at a nearly record low level, and aquifers are also at very low levels, threatening our water supply even with the benefits of desalination. Because there is more moisture in a warmer atmosphere, when rains do come, it is often in the form of heavy storms that cause major and dangerous flooding.
The coastal plain, which contains much of Israel’s population and infrastructure, is in danger of being inundated by a rising Mediterranean Sea. In addition, military experts believe there will be greater threats of violence, terrorism and war as the Middle East becomes even hotter and dryer.
Based on this and much more, it is time to challenge Trump and other politicians to make averting a climate catastrophe a central focus.
BATZION SHLOMI
Afula
‘Tip of the hat’ to HOT
With regard to “HOT 3Q profit more than doubles” (Business & Finance, November 6), let me share with you just how HOT, under the leadership of Tal Granot Goldstein, was able to achieve this.
I have used HOT for many, many years and can tell you that poor service is at the top of its list.
Being short-handed is its hallmark.
I had the occasion to call HOT to lodge a complaint about a charge on my monthly bill for a service I did not request. When an operator picked up the call after many rings, I was assured that I would be reimbursed. But reimbursement did not happen, and many, many months have passed. This has meant getting on the phone and reaching customer service to report that the reimbursement has not appeared on my bank statement.
I am a senior citizen and do not have the luxury of simply overlooking an overcharge. I notified HOT office if the reimbursement is not issued, I would cancel my service.
On November 6 I called again. Only after waiting many minutes for the phone to be answered, the operator assured me that my call would be returned “within the next 10 minutes.” I waited by the phone, certain that I would get a call-back.
After waiting for half an hour, I left to do errands.
Returning two hours later, my wife informed me that HOT did not call back.
Running a business unethically seems to have its perks. Under-staffing customer service and tacking on charges for unrequested services obviously helped HOT double its 3Q profit.
HOT CEO Goldstein got a pat on the back by Globes for this fete. I, too, tip my hat to her.
SIMCHA STERZER
Beit Shemesh
Iran’s true intent
The reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah is purely a ruse orchestrated by Iran.
The Iranians hope that once the parties are reconciled in a state of Palestine, Hamas, with funding and other forms of assistance from Iran, will eventually win elections and form a government. Hamas will then be able to invite Iran to send arms and men, as it has done for Syria, and this could lead to a war with, and even the destruction of, the State of Israel.
Our present government, when making peace with the Palestinians, should ensure that under all circumstances, Israel controls land, sea and air to prevent an invasion by Iran.
DAVID GAFFAN
Ra’anana