In response to Zach Davis’ Sept. 8 column, “Israeli actions show American alliance is irresponsible”:
Since you have so graciously published your views on the American-Israeli alliance in The Daily Reveille last week, allow me to provide you the history your teachers forgot to tell you. First of all, there have been at least five opportunities for peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians, all including offers of Israeli land in exchange for peace. Each time, the Palestinians have rejected this offer by either blatantly refusing to negotiate or attacking the people of Israel.
Secondly, let me remind you that Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East. It is the responsibility of the United States, as a democracy, to support all democracies in the world that strive for peace and freedom from oppression, including Israel.
Lastly, let me put this situation in perspective. If the U.S. was repeatedly attacked over the U.S.-Mexico border by the Mexicans launching missiles into the southern states because it was their land first, would our military not defend us by fighting back? Wouldn’t we also confront those that funded and voiced support for those attacks? What right do we have to demand Israeli leaders to allow its citizens to be attacked without retaliating? On the contrary, the U.S. needs to support Israel in defending itself from those attacking its citizens by whatever means necessary. The alliance between the U.S. and Israel is an alliance we must defend because democracy and freedom are worth fighting for.
Rebecca Ringuette
Physics graduate student