LETTERSTO THE EDITOR

the equivalent of America losing 40,000 babies, children, teenagers, adults and seniors. Hamas recorded their barbaric acts of death and bodily mutilation against civilians and Israel soldiers on cell phones and video for all to see. There is no question about the atrocities committed by Hamas as they were proud to document their evil work.

Hamas has a long history of diverting humanitarian aid for military purposes. This included building a network of 300 miles of underground tunnels in Gaza. First things first, Hamas should release all hostages from Israel, the United States and other nations around the world. Any humanitarian aid after that needs to be administered by the International Red Cross, supplemented by outside observers. This is the only way to assure that aid goes to civilians in need versus Hamas terrorists.

Don’t pay for it by adding $100 million to our long-term $33.6 trillion national debt. Instead, reduce our aid to the useless pro-Palestinian United Nations by $100 million.

Larry Penner Great Neck, LI

Israel must press ahead

Dear Editor:

It seems that every country, including the United States, the only one that saw the Hamas attack for what it is, and every mainstream news media outfit and their sources are demanding that Israel stops its operation to wipe out Hamas without demanding a stop to rockets and the return of hostages. That is total madness, since Hamas has stated that they are ready to repeat their attack on Israel as soon as they can regroup and reorganize.

Jacques Hakim Bayside

History and anti-Semitism

Dear Editor:

Jews have been discriminated against since the days before writing. For centuries Jews have settled in many parts of the world and then been forced out due to persecution or for money. It is not due to dietary laws so much as it is for our difficulty to assimilate with other religions. In order to become Jewish there are many steps that would even seem barbaric to many people.

Not eating foods that are acceptable to many but not to us: no pork, shellfish or milk with meat. Not marrying outside our religion (unless the other person converts to Judaism). The circumcision of a Jewish male’s penis (the covenant with God from the times of Abraham in the Old Testament, who is the patriarch of the Jews and Muslims).

Jews were never allowed to join guilds or buy land in the Middle Ages. Limited in the ability to earn money, they were relegated to lending money. Only after centuries of moving after pogroms and attacks did Jews get enough funds to sometimes get educated. Thence the syndrome of many Jewish doctors in the 1950s. Entire fields of study were shut to them. Barred from hotels, Jews then built the Catskill hotel area, which brought in talent from all over the world.

Jews have always been innovators due to necessity and the adverse conditions we’ve been subject to. We have always tried to live and let live but our clannishness has been our bulwark, and because of these factors ignorant people have never understood our place in history or wanted to. Many Muslims, Jews and Christians have gotten along for centuries but some fanatics always pop up to want to exterminate us, always using the name of God in vain. As if God wanted any part of war!

Alexander Glatt Woodhaven

Biden vs. Trump economy

Dear Editor:

When Donald Trump left office the inflation rate was 1.9 percent and mortgages were offered at 2.68 percent. Cumulative inflation for the entire four-year period of his presidency was 7.7 percent with an average of 1.9 percent.

Joe Biden said that he would beat Trump like a drum. With respect to inflation and mortgages he has certainly succeeded. In only two years and eight months his cumulative inflation rate is 17.7 percent and mortgages are approaching 8 percent. It is probable that after four years in office his cumulative inflation rate will be approaching 25 percent. He is beating the American people like a drum too.

Biden’s apologists like to say that inflation is falling but this is actually untrue. What is falling is the rate of increase. However, after his first term his gift to us will be an approximately 25 percent increase in prices that will be permanent. Mortgage rates may fluctuate and trend downward but the prices we see in the supermarket now are not going away. The fact that Biden is going around claiming that Bidenomics is a good thing is clearly a sign that his brain is not just declining with age but is actually in free fall.

Michael Gallagher Forest Hills

States of PR and DC

Dear Editor:

In 1959, Congress wisely granted statehood to Alaska and Hawaii. The time has come for Congress to admit the territory of Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia as our 51st and 52nd states. This action would finally give full voting rights to millions of American citizens of voting age.

Anthony G. Pilla Forest Hills