Readers sound off on Israel’s protests, Raquel Welch and kettling

Calgary, Alberta: Re “Netanyahu is courting disaster” (editorial, March 26): The Ashkenazi majority that was the ruling class in Israel is no more. Mizrachi and Haredi Jews are the majority.

Haredis, much like American evangelical Christians, want a country more reflective of their religious beliefs. Mizrachi Jews, descended from Jews expelled from Arab countries that for thousands of years were an oppressed minority, have a much more negative attitude toward Arabs. This has resulted in a right-wing religious government far more belligerent towards the Palestinians.

If Israel held elections tomorrow, it would have the same outcome as the last ones. This is the result of Israel’s democracy, not an attack on democracy. What would be an attack on democracy would be international pressure resulting in the repudiation of the will of the voters.

As in America, there is a culture war in Israel that no amount of handwringing will solve. Many Israelis will leave the country, the economy will flatten out and the conflict with the Palestinians will escalate. Only when the situation becomes unbearable will the ruling coalition consider restoring the separation of religion and state.

That’s what the demonstrations are all about. The irony is that Israel is becoming more like its Arab neighbors, all of which are religious states. It’s the Middle East, after all. Larry Shapiro

Margate, Fla.: Israel held a fair democratic election in which judicial reform was part of the winning Netanyahu coalition’s platform. Presently in Israel, judges select judges with no final check and balance from the legislative or executive branch. It is the equivalent of Amy Coney Barrett selecting the next Supreme Court justice. The Netanyahu coalition’s proposals will add a semblance of checks and balances to an obviously unbalanced judicial selection process. Richard Sherman

Atlanta: The Israeli Supreme Court has overstepped. Sitting justices can veto the appointments of new judges and have rejected candidates whose views conflict with those of the judges on the Selection Committee. An investigation into the activities of Avigdor Lieberman, head of the Yisrael Beiteinu Party, went on for 10 years but produced no indictment. During the long runup to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s trial, American jurist and former federal prosecutor Arthur Fergenson said the 93-page, 330-witness indictment against Netanyahu was a clear case of the judiciary attempting to criminalize politics and smother the voice of the voting public. The trial has been going on for three years, which lends support to Fergenson’s characterization of the situation. The law defining rules for removing a prime minister from office might have been written with Netanyahu in mind, but it will apply to future PMs deemed unable to fulfill the obligations of the office. Toby F. Block

Brooklyn: To Voicer Ed Buckner: This is a Christian nation, and it is not a free country anymore. Teachers and students should pray the Lord’s Prayer (the “Our Father”) in school. The power of prayer is great! Religion and prayer belong everywhere. God created us and He more than deserves our utmost love and respect. When you pray, you are calling down God’s blessings upon you. When you take prayer out of schools, it is sadly replaced by violence, etc. Which do you prefer? Wanda Lucci

Manhattan: My heart and thoughts definitely go out to the families of the victims of the senseless school shooting in Nashville. Truly disgusting. But here’s the deal: It won’t be the last one. Why? Due to this nation’s intentions of removing the presence of God from this country and the majority of people continuing to put politicians in office who don’t care about the people. Omar Branch

Greenburgh, N.Y.: It seems like there are school shootings and mass shootings every week. If Congress won’t take action on reasonable gun safety laws (like banning assault weapons), I think Congress should authorize a national referendum. The U.S. once had a ban on assault weapons. The law was approved almost 30 years ago but there was a sunset provision in the legislation so the ban is no longer in effect. If Congress won’t act, let the people decide. Paul Feiner

Manhattan: I watched “Face the Nation” on Sunday. Margaret Brennan asked Rep. Tony Gonzales a yes-or-no question, if he supports statements made by Donald Chump glorifying the Jan. 6 attack. Instead of a yes or no answer, Gonzales talked about how great it was to have Chump back in Texas and how President Biden is “failing us.” I believe Brennan should have asked the congressman to answer yes or no or leave the show. The same goes for “Meet the Press.” Raymond McEaddy

Great Neck, L.I.: I have watched Ch. 2, WCBS-TV all my life. It is, after all, the station that showed the iconic Walter Cronkite fighting back tears on Nov. 22, 1963. Therefore, I don’t understand how they could feature a commercial with Mike Lindell. Everyone knows how this man feels about our country. I am profoundly saddened and shocked by this. Nadine Feingold

Parsippany, N.J.: To Voicer Robert Palmieri: You, sir, are gullible and ignorant. It’s this two-faced Tucker Carlson who is stoking lies. This is “1984″ almost 40 years later. Truth is now a lie and fake news is now real news. People like you are bringing a great nation to its eventual demise. Carlson is not a journalist (he even admits that), but a dangerous demagogue. The Donald lost a fair election as well as being a borderline traitor. The ignorant masses who attacked our Capitol were not peaceful tourists or even legitimate demonstrators, just useful cannon fodder for an immature, sick mind. The Jan. 6 Committee did a fantastic, thorough and heroic job and should be commended. With the use of the internet and social media, Russia did interfere in our elections. Sorry if you can’t handle the truth. You bring nothing to the table. Keith Dudiak

Pomona, N.Y.: I was saddened to hear of the passing of Raquel Welch. As a boy who grew up in the ‘60s, I had Raquel’s poster hung on my wall behind my bed. She was a true sex symbol. On behalf of all the boys from the ‘60s who are now men in their 60s, thanks for the fond memories. Rest in peace. Martin Gleason

Bronx: I hope a really good writer for the Daily News can dig into the acquisition of Greyhound by FlixBus, who I’ve read has taken over long-distance bus service in Europe and now seems to have taken over service in the United States. Eric Cummings Jr.

Manhattan: The article on the happy rescue of 44 dogs who had been doomed to be put to death in China’s meat industry (“Dogs won’t be dinner,” March 24) is very good news indeed. But let’s not make the mistake of blaming the Chinese for egregious mistreatment of animals when in this country, we are responsible for putting large numbers of dogs and cats to death because they are unwanted — to say nothing of killing billions of chickens, cattle, pigs and other captive and exploited farmed animals every year as part of our own food industries. Mark Caponigro

Glen Ridge, N.J.: To Voicer Jim Hughes: Are some people in China so stupid to believe that terrified dogs beaten to death in front of other dogs taste better? How savage. I hope they choke on the first bite. Francine Ferrara

Brooklyn: Re “City OKs total of $6M to 300 ‘20 Floyd protesters” (March 2): It’s insanity. That wasn’t a protest for George Floyd, that was a full-on riot! Why would the city pay $6 million for such a chaotic display of violence? The police were outnumbered and getting hit with bottles. The crowd was out of control. The police had no other choice but to employ the tactic known as kettling. It’s their job to get a riot under control by any means necessary, and that’s what they did! Linda Guidice