OPINION:
As a member of a Jewish faith that is increasingly under attack both in the United States and internationally (and as one whose paternal grandparents were murdered by the Nazis in the Holocaust), it makes me proud and gratified to see the massive outpouring of support for Israel that was demonstrated in Washington on Tuesday (“Massive pro-Israel rally assembles on National Mall, decries antisemitism in U.S.,” web, Nov. 14).
With little notice, about 200,000 people massed to signify their support for our Middle Eastern ally, the Jewish homeland. This powerful show of solidarity served to counter the massive pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel demonstrations we have seen in our country and throughout the world, in which what was inflicted on innocent Israeli civilians has been swept under the rug.
We must never forget the savagery that was unleashed and celebrated by terrorists on Israel’s modern day of infamy, the Sabbath of Oct. 7, nor can we place out of mind the plight of hundreds of hostages taken from their homes. These victims include many Americans.
Of course, Israel must protect to the extent possible the innocent Palestinians in Gaza who are caught up in war through no fault of their own, but the Israel Defense Forces must extinguish the organization dedicated to Israel’s destruction. Hamas has pledged to repeat its spree of mass murder.
We must bear in mind that the deaths, injuries and destruction that have rained down on Palestinian residents of Gaza were triggered not by Israel, but by Hamas alone.
OREN SPIEGLER
Peters Township, Pennsylvania
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