LOL! So much for the "humanitarian" motivation, eh?

that is what you Turks keep telling all of us here in the Middle East. Turkey is a European Democracy which aspires to become a member of the European Union, except that there's the "little issue" of occupation of Cyprus and that old issue of the Armenian Genocide so the European Union has been giving Turkey the cold shoulder for a very long time. I suppose we are better off not speaking about all of the Turks who are foreign workers in Europe which is probably the real reason that Europe doesn't want Turkey in the EU But I have digressed if the above is correct, that is that Turkey is in Europe, then how is that all of a sudden you also want to be a democracy in the Middle East? That is to say: 1. We agree that Turkey is a democracy 2. Let's decide where Turkey is located is it located in Europe or in the Middle East? Depending on how you answer #2 above then we can decide if there are two democracies in the Middle East or just one! Please do let me know.

Brilliant and true. I am proud to live in this great country.

An excellent article about an excellent letter.

"Therefore we suggest to let you solve first the real problems of the region, and then come back and share with us your experience. Have a nice flight." Why - oh why - do Israeli politicians repeatedly assume they can represent us in English without bothering to have their English checked? A letter like this should be perfect, instead of leaving the reader room to laugh at its poor grammar.

It is true all other religions are free to practice in Israel (as far as I know), but what about financial and scholastic inequality among Jewish religious streams? The Orthodox stream receives much larger budgets than Reform do, for instance. Also, in education, Orthodox Judaism is dominating overwhelmingly. In government religious posts, why are Orthodox Jews appointed overwhelmingly? I have read that Reform Jews feel oppressed in Israel. And we hear nothing from Reconstructionist Jews or from Cultural Jews about who we do hear in the U.S.A..

Shows once again what the Israeli genius is all about! A big BRAVO to the writer of this letter!

Ask the residents of Sedrot; ask the resident of the communities bordering Gaza; ask the Jews living around and in Jerusalem. They do fear for their lives from attacks by the arabs surrounding them on a daily basis. Jews are a minority in the Middle East, let's not forget that.

LOVE this letter, Kol Ha Kavod Israel!!!!!

I cannot believe this is a real letter written by the Israeli gov't. It is utterly embarrassing. Some of these activists are well meaning but receive such a one sided view of the conflict that this will only reenforce their prejudices. Israel lost a golden opportunity to engage them. Some of them may actually have gone home so with a more nuanced viewpoint. Ans if not, no harm some. Israel should never compare itself in relation to its neighbors. Its like a child saying! I did THIS, but Johnny did THIS !" By comparing themselves to the states in the region, they are setting the very low. The Israeli govt is not acting like a confident or competent representative of Israel. I can never imagine the United States doing this It gives the appearance of an unprofessional gov't with a chip in its shoulder. I know it feels good to shove this in the activists face. but thus is a shtetl reaction. Not the response of a confident regional power. I am a Zionist. I know what Israel is facing, but many in the govt, due to the the electoral system are not worldly, not always educated, and not the best and the brightest. I could never imagine Abba Eban or Walther Eytan doing such a thing. Excuse the typos, but I am writing on my phone.

IrRespective of what I said in my last note, I do accept the logic of the notes content and fully share in the contempt of the hipocracy of the activists

An excellent article about an excellent letter.

Powerful response. Says what a lot of people think. These protesters really are just straight out bigots who "don't like Jews " and 'palestinian issue' is just a convenient mask for their prejudice. Well - they can hide no longer.

Any other questions?

Free Constantinople. Free the Agia Sophia. Free Cyprus.

It is true that Israel is equal and free and humanitarian...but only if you are Jewish.

Israel's argument is that even though they steal the Palestinian lands, engage in ethnic cleansing of Arabs from the West Bank and E. Jerusalem under the guise of "settlements", have built a virtual prison around 1.7 mln Gazans...the World is supposed to ignore all that because there are WORSE offenders out there than Israel. What a joke.

About time the the PR team of the State of Israel used their imagination to fight back the constant badgering of all Jews everywere on this Planet. Keep the good work and go get em and circulate the welcome letter World wide?

That is what the protesters deserve. Through the revolving door to collect their letters and back out to a detention center and deportation.

Well said men! I will add: If you want a piece of a jew, you can still como and get it with me. Any time.

Your post has nothing to do with religious freedom, which exists unconditionally to all religions in Israel, but rather, sectorial favoritism among the religious streams. You are welcome to discuss this topic when the relevant news item comes along. But not here, where it is completely irrelevant.

Oh, but I beg to disagree. I may well be the best grammarian on these boards (forgive my hubris), and I think it reads perfectly exactly as is.

at least that's what Assad is saying. And we're also helping the Egyptian protesters AND the military at the same time, depending on who you talk to. Truth is - to Arabs and Leftists, whomever they hate, Israel is helping them. Sounds a lot like you're the paranoid group... and that's a pretty common belief among Israelis - even the Gentile ones. :-P

and if they truly were well-meaning, they would have researched the situation in depth before following a one-sided organizer who's intentions and agenda are far from "well-meaning". In their actions, they disrespect and violate the sovereignty and sensibilities of 7 million people, many in harm's way on a daily basis. I think the letter is succinct and timely. It doesn't justify Israel's actions by pointing the finger at Syria (as you suggest). Rather, it points out the very hypocrisy of these protesters who claim to support freedom but follow the path of least resistance, and sometimes of money. If they were "well-meaning", they would have asked the same question of themselves as in the letter from Israel. Yes - the US govt wouldn't write a letter. They would just toss their asses out without apology or reimbursement. Case closed.

Here in Jerusalem, We have Hebrew Union College, Kol HaNeshama, and 4 other reform congregations. We have Mevakshe Derech which is Reconstructionist Throughout Israel we have the TALI educational system which is part of the public school system. (TALI is both conservative and reform) And we have the Humanistic Jews which are just like the cultural Jews you refer to. Expand your horizons and you'll learn that your perspective is very narrow indeed! (By the way, in case you were concerned, we have a whole host of Christian denominations and Moslem denominations and guess what all of us live togther just fine!) I am just surprised that over there in California you have such a limited view of Israeli life!

its better to leave them laughing!