My blood boils as I read “Canada ‘concerned’ over Israeli measures,” (CJN, March 6). It is not surprising to me that Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier would respond in this way. He has not responded nor acted in the case of Saul Itzhayek who has been in prison in India for 10 months. [Itzhayek is a businessman who was taken into Indian custody when he attempted to cross into the country from Nepal last May.] Neither has Bernier done anything to protect other Canadians who are in jail around the world for no just cause. How could he possibly imagine that any country would want to protect its citizens? It makes me wonder what would happen if someone stood outside his house day after day throwing firebombs at it. Would he want to retaliate and try to stop the perpetrators, or would he simply ask them “to comply with their obligations under international law”? Give me a break, Mr. Bernier.
Peggy Pardo
Montreal

In the article “Canada ‘concerned’ over Israeli measures,” (CJN, March 6), Hamas’ missiles are referred to as “homemade” Qassam rockets. This suggests that these are primitive devices that are constructed in the homes of the terrorists and, the inference having been made, launched into Israel in the hope that they will arrive. These are far from “homemade” and are reaching their designated targets with devastating accuracy.
If you are going to report on events in and around Israel, please ensure that, at the very least, objectivity is achieved.
Neil Nathan
Toronto

Congratulations on your publishing the editorial “Israel’s options in Gaza,” (CJN, March 6), which promotes the idea of ceasefire in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Hamas has often proposed ceasefires, which Israel has rejected. By publishing editorials and articles such as this, you contribute to the pursuit of peace, rather than a continuous bloody killing spree that never did one thing in changing the rockets fired on Sderot.
Mira Khazzam
Montreal

Yasher koach to The CJN for carefully analyzing the limited solutions to the Hamas-Gaza-Israel conflict (“Israel’s options in Gaza,” CJN, March 6).
Bernard Katz
Toronto

I could scarcely believe that I was reading a CJN opinion column in the Feb. 7 issue (“Israel should re-think policy in Gaza”). Jesse Mintz’s dilemma of whose side to take in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is shocking. The mere fact that he has difficulty in discerning between the various sources for accuracy is alarming to me. While I am admittedly a partisan for Israel, I do believe in balanced freedom of speech.
The Palestinian public relations campaign, which started after the second intifadah, has had a profound impact on the worldwide opinion, as evidenced by Durban I and Durban II, to name but two examples. This liberally funded campaign is intended to rally the support of the global community for the Palestinian misfortune and the oppressive nature of the Israeli occupation. The believers are not relegated to the non-Jewish community, as evidenced by Mintz’s article. If the Palestinian propaganda has started to have an impact on the outlook of Jewish youth, then the Canadian community must act without delay in educating the next generation before it’s too late.
I also hold The CJN accountable for printing of such misguided thoughts. As a proud and longstanding supporter of Israel and the Montreal Jewish community, I find it reprehensible that the paper would print such a disturbing opinion. Freedom of the press aside, I expect the voice of the Canadian Jewish community to adopt and protect an unconditional position in support of Israel. The publication of these types of opinions can only result in more Diaspora Jews to look for ways to rationalize the aggressive, terrorist actions of the Palestinians, whose singular goal is the annihilation of Israel.
Peter Klauber
Dollard des Ormeaux, Que.