Peace in Israel, With Conviction

This letter was published in The New York Times on April 25, 2016. Uri Weltsch was not on any of the PRIMER email lists when he wrote this terrific letter, or when it was published, but he is now. I recommend paying attention to when he moved from Germany to Palestine. May he live to 120 and may he continue to be an inspiration to us all.

To the Editor:

Re: Roger Cohen (“Bernie’s Israel Heresy,” April 19): While I do not support all of Mr. Nethanyahu’s policies, I share his deep conviction that we must face the intentions of Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas to eventually “wipe Israel off the map,” which they repeatedly proclaim to be their ultimate goal.

When Prime Minister Ariel Sharon voluntarily retreated from Israeli-held territories in the south of the country, Hamas moved in and hurled missiles at the civilian population. (When still a U.S. senator, Barack Obama referred to this on a visit to the south of the country in 2008).

I moved from Germany to Palestine with my family in 1933 at age 10, and I have lived there ever since. Perhaps it was Mr. Cohen’s and Mr. Sanders’s good fortunes that their families immigrated to the United States. They do not seem to share our concerns as to the safety of our grandchildren.

Despite the current upheavals in the Middle East, we should not rest but continue to achieve some understanding with the other side toward a permanent peace plan.

URI WELTSCH
Tel Aviv