Chutzpah

Seymour Reich writes in the NYTimes' letters section:

We applaud Mr. Goldberg’s call for the leadership of the American Jewish community to step back from “standards of rhetorical correctness” and to “allow” a “radical rethinking of what it means to be pro-Israel.”

The Conference of Presidents of American Jewish Organizations and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the two organizations Mr. Goldberg cites, are vital to strengthening the American-Israeli relationship. But they do not represent the views of the majority of American Jews about the peace process or about the Israeli government’s need for flexibility in dealing with such issues as Jerusalem and settlements.

And he does? No way.

Remember Reich:

To the Editor:

In ''Investing in Gaza'' (column, July 6), Thomas L. Friedman has it exactly right.

The groundswell of relief he found among Israelis and Palestinians was palpable during my most

recent visit to Israel and reflected in a meeting with Palestinian leaders in Washington in May.

Israel's vice prime minister, Ehud Olmert, put it this way during a speech in New York last month:

''We are tired of fighting, we are tired of being courageous, we are tired of winning,

we are tired of defeating our enemies.''

Most Israelis and Palestinians are ready to reach an agreement. As in the past,

they need a strong American presence in the negotiations to help them take

the first step: a successful Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

It's time for Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to revive shuttle diplomacy.

Seymour D. Reich
President, Israel Policy Forum
New York, July 6, 2005

Well, Israel has so successfully withdrawn that we have more terror than previously in that Ashkelon, Ashdod and Kiryat Gat are being lined up.

Thanks, Seymour, for your representative support.