A thank you note

Submitted by Linda Wolff (Israel), Jul 8, 2003 at 05:01

Dr. Pipes,
I moved to Israel from my native Los Angeles nearly 35 years ago. I was a young bride then and am a grandmother now. Throughout those years, I have seen Israel grow and develop and oftimes, even prosper. I've seen my husband and sons, nephews, nieces, great nephews and great nieces serve in the army with conviction, with dignity and with decency. I've been to more funerals than I can count of both young soldiers "killed in action" and civilians killed going to work, to eat or to enjoy an outing. In one case, it was a student on her way to class, -- mine.

I've seen miracles. One was my niece, who arrived mortally wonded at Beilenson Hospital two years ago due to a small, sharpened boulder that collided with her skull after it was catapulted through a car window. This happened the day after she announced her engagement. Thanks to the finest medical team conceivable and the prayers and good wishes of people literally all over the world, my niece is now married with a new baby and a career as a physiotherapist.

That is not the miracle. The miracle is that despite the injuries she sustained and the damage that can never be undone, she is not a bitter person, and neither are we, all the people who love her. We know that in the scheme of things, there is a price to be paid for being a Jew and for the privilege of living in the Land of Israel. And we know that it really doesn't make any difference if it is pre-1967 Little Israel or post-1967 Greater Israel. The Middle East is what might be called a restricted neighborhood and we aren't welcome here.

The reason I am writing all of this to you is because despite long years of forebearance and tolerance, the one thing that I still find hard to abide is the double standard that is universally applied to Israel. Your article made clear what Israel is up against in defending itself not only from hostile neighbors but from "good friends".

Thank you very much.

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