‘After the Election’

The Hamas victory confirms that the issue between the Muslim Palestinians and Israel is no longer settlements, borders or right of return [“After the Election,” Editorial, January 27, 2006]. The issue is Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state. As the Gaza Arabs continue to acquire weapons through Egypt at an unprecedented rate, the Jewish people are uniting everywhere.

In Israel, whether one is identified with Kadima, Likud, or Labor is nearly a mute point now. In the Americas and in Europe, Jews held meetings and rallies to come together and hear dignitaries and leaders discuss the new realities. The American government, under President Bush, has emphasized it will not talk with an Arab government that is sworn to the destruction of Israel.

Israel’s acting prime minister, Ehud Olmert, has declared that Israel will not talk with the new Palestinian government before it disarms and excises from its covenant its vow to annihilate Israel. So far the top leaders of Hamas have told al-Jazeera and the Western press that Hamas has no intention of doing either.

Israel and the Jewish people recall how eight Arab nations swooped down on Israel to snuff out its life right after it was born nearly 58 years ago. That attempt at infanticide has not been forgotten.

RAY KESTENBAUM
Rego Park, N.Y.

‘Waiting for Golisano’

How would Thomas Golisano’s candidacy have been any different than Mayor Bloomberg’s in terms of confirming the presence of a new plutocracy, where billionaires get elected by defeating underfunded candidates, who must follow campaign finance laws? [“Waiting for Golisano,” John P. Avlon, Opinion, January 31, 2006]

I agree that this is not good for politics: Jon Corzine, Mr. Golisano, Mr. Bloomberg. But why single Mr. Golisano out?

I am simply suggesting that some of the criticisms leveled at a potential Golisano GOP candidacy by Mr. Avlon, in light of the recent condition of the State GOP, are weak, at best.

If Mr. Avlon is concerned about the Republican Party selling out to Mr. Golisano, he need look no further than to City Hall to find a good example of a GOP sell out. The whole bunch of them -Mr. Bloomberg, Governor Pataki, Joseph Bruno, and Alfonse D’Amato – have shown little interest over the years in building a strong statewide party.

EVAN EDWARDS
Manhattan

‘Andrea Bronfman Is Killed’

The New York Sun’s articles about the recent spate of pedestrian fatalities contained speculation about why they were occurring, with the implication that motorists were somehow at fault [“Andrea Bronfman Is Killed By a Car As She Walks Her Dog on 65th Street,” Stephen Miller, Page 1, January 24, 2006, and “Many Pedestrian Injuries at Site Where Bronfman Died,” Lauren Elkies, New York, January 25, 2006].

The main reason, to my mind, was not mentioned, and it is something easily observed at any street crossing: People waiting for the light to change do so while standing in the street, not on the sidewalk. This seemingly New York habit is virtually universal in the city.

I have seen pedestrians standing one lane into traffic (check out East 77th Street and Lexington Avenue), including mothers with infants in strollers. This is not to touch upon jaywalkers at night wearing dark clothes. To this observer, were it not for drivers being at least somewhat diligent, the toll on our streets would be much higher.

FRED HARTMANN
Tuxedo Park, N.Y.

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