Sir, – In your editorial “Women’s battle” (December 9), it should be clear that no one is against women singing in the army. The problem is that religious male solders are forced to listen when it is against their halachic education and upbringing. If the army wants to increase the number of religious and haredi young men who do army service, it will have to take their halachic standards into consideration.YITZCHOK ELEFANT Dimona The writer is chief rabbi of Dimona
Why the ethnicity? Sir, – The Politics section in the December 9 Post (“Facing the enemy within”) was very clear and to the point, including the photographs of our leading politicians. However, I cannot understand the need to mention that their rivals are from Tunisia, Iran and Morocco.Is it not time for journalists and their newspapers to refrain from such provocation? LEON CHARNEY YehudEveryone’s constituency Sir, – Depicting the issue of inequality within Israel toward its Arab minority is certainly justifiable (“Jews and Arabs living side by side,” A Different Perspective,” December 9). I would also emphatically emphasize the urgent need to promote the Arabic language, history and culture within our educational system.However, it behooves Arab- Israeli MKs to address the many serious social issues and concerns of their constituents instead of treacherously collaborating with enemies of their country. This would go a long way toward easing existing prejudices, resentment and tensions within both communities.GISH TRUMAN ROBBINS PardesiyaSir, – Jay Bushinsky is undoubtedly correct in his main point, that Arab Israelis are to a certain extent discriminated against. However, the careful reader will see that the discrimination cited by Bushinsky is private, not legal.It is quite difficult to order individuals not to be careful in dealing with a minority that has been known to kill with knives, guns, bombs and cars. When there is peace, equality will be much easier to achieve. As far as the employment statistics Bushinsky cites, without evaluating the appropriate qualifications, a similar argument could prove that the US discriminates against women because there are no female players in Major League Baseball.DAVID WILLIG SafedTurkey misportrayed Sir, – I did not recognize the portrait of Turkey given in the recent column by Douglas Bloomfield (“Turkey: Friend or foe?,” Washington Watch, December 8).Bloomfield quoted Dan Schueftan’s analysis that the Republic of Turkey is “spreading its own brand of radical Islam” throughout the region. Quoting only Schueftan, he suggests that Turkey is an enemy of Israel and no friend to the United States.Such assertions are malicious and without factual support. It is sad that Bloomfield accepted them without question or critical thinking. It looks as if it took a serious effort to portray Turkey as a radical Islamic state, in total denial of the fact that it continues to serve as a source of inspiration for the rest of the Muslim world, particularly North African and the Middle East, with its secular, democratic character.Turkey is committed to the ideals of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, who put it on a path of prosperity, democracy and freedom.It was the first majority Muslim nation to recognize Israel and is host to a large Jewish community that has flourished for more than 500 years.While relations between the governments of Turkey and Israel are strained due to the Mavi Marmara incident in 2010, many aspects of the historic friendship between the two peoples remain in place.We have also set the record straight by declaring that these measures were taken in reaction to the policies of the government of Israel and by no means targeted the Israeli or Jewish people.Turkey is proud of its longstanding alliance with the United States, its membership in NATO and its contribution to NATO’s operations in Afghanistan and elsewhere. We are a welcoming and friendly nation, confident in our freedoms and our open culture.Bloomfield’s readers deserve better than this fact-free account.NAMIK TAN Washington, DCThe writer is the Republic of Turkey’s ambassador to the United States
‘Post’ is confused Sir, – In “Scary US views” (Editorial, December 6), The Jerusalem Post criticizes America’s stance that concessions would, “after decades of incitement,” lessen hatreds. It says “Israel’s isolation has not deepened as a result of anything that it has done (besides existing).”But these decades rebut claims that the Palestinians won’t build their state and prefer to destroy Israel’s. Instead, they show Israel’s relentless settler expansion – now 550,000 – preventing a viable Palestinian state.Suppose the Palestinians put 550,000 settlers in Israel. Who would we think threatened whose state? But this is just what Israel does to them.As historical fact, this perpetuates hatred, including inexcusable and bestial atrocities by extremists against Jews. Tragically, the Post confuses this detestable abomination with its historical cause, and with the withdrawal that would help engender its decline and disappearance.As same historical fact, settlement expansion worsens relations with a United States that tries to help. It has isolated Israel and traumatized its security.What is frightening is not American views, but the Post’s impenetrable thickets of denial.JAMES ADLERCambridge, Massachusetts