Michael Moore on Israel

[sent to MichaelMoore.com]

Dear Mr. Moore:

I have been a fan of your since my high school English teacher played for us a VHS of Roger & Me.  Since then, I have not seen a single film of yours that I did not love.  I have even read a couple of your books and enjoyed them very much.  Even when I disagree with you (which is rare), you are an interesting and entertaining voice.

For this reason, I was disturbed by your comments at the Sixth and I Historic Synagogue regarding Israel and the Palestinians.  On that issue, you implied that you were in favor of the unilateral Palestinian movement to get the United Nations to recognize a Palestinian state, thus subverting U.S. policy of bringing about a Palestinian state through negotiating a just settlement of the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians.  On this point, you not only diverge from U.S. policy, but also from the stated opinions of some Palestinians leaders and left-wing Israeli leaders that moves like this will not bring about peace in the region and will only serve to isolate Israel internationally.

I invite you to rethink your opinions on the Middle East.  I direct you to responsible, left-wing groups such as J Street, Americans for Peace Now, and the American Task Force on Palestine for groups that for you to research, and whose views you may find it useful to endorse.

Thank you.

On the U.S.-Israel relationship

[sent to Robert D. Blackwill of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy]

I listened to your lecture on the U.S.-Israel relationship with great interest.  The way that you and your associate, Walter B. Slocombe, presented your arguments that the U.S.-Israel relationship is truly symbiotic were among the most clear-headed I’ve ever heard.  Furthermore, you gave a brilliant rebuttal to those who believe that the U.S.-Israel relationship is a liability for the United States by imagining how Saudi Arabia would react to a breakdown in the U.S.-Israel relationship and concluding that nothing substantial would be gained in the U.S.-Saudi relationship.  I commend you on your efforts and I look forward to your future publications and lectures.

Ron Paul’s extreme views on foreign aid

[sent to Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX)]

I read about the debate in which Mr. Paul has participated last night in Las Vegas and was surprised to read such statements from Mr. Paul as “I would cut all foreign aid.  … And I don’t think aid to Israel actually helps them.” The truth is that aid to Israel actually does help them and it actually does help the United States as well.  The ways in which U.S. aid to Israel helps both parties are too many to list in this short message, but seeing that Mr. Paul is so passionate about the American economy, I’d like to remind Mr. Paul that much of the U.S. aid to Israel is returned back to U.S. defense contractors.  I urge Mr. Paul to reconsider his extreme views against foreign aid in light of these facts.

Upon Gilad Shalit’s return home

[Sent to Congressman Howard Berman (D-CA)]

Dear Congressman Berman:

I read your message concerning Israeli Army Sergeant-Major Gilad Shalit’s return home after more than five years of captivity by Hamas.  Without getting into the specifics, your message presented an accurate picture of how your constituents, and indeed all believers in human rights, feel at this historic moment.  Thank you for taking this opportunity to use your position to bring light to this important topic.

G.H.
North Hollywood, CA