Dear Editor,

Neal Urwitz thinks of Benjamin Netanyahu as a “malignant selfish narcissist … who thrives on conflict.” Mr. Urwitz was proud to announce that he has loathed Netanyahu since 1996. I would ask Mr. Urwitz to examine the most recent conflict and then reconsider.

Israel was invaded by Hamas, which broke its fifth ceasefire agreement it held with Israel on October 7, 2023. Not only did Hamas invade Israel, it began a deadly missile barrage on Israel.

The day after, Hezbollah started launching rockets at northern Israel, driving close to 200,000 Israelis from their homes. One of their missiles killed 13 Druze kids playing soccer on their village soccer pitch. The Houthis from Yemen started launching missiles at Israel.

Israel could not live under these conditions and had to stop the initiator of these attacks, which was Iran.

By 2025, Iran had been neutered; its oppressed people are demonstrating on the streets for a new government. The Houthis have lost all their leadership and are no longer a military threat. Iran and Hezbollah were driven out of Syria, whose people overthrew the brutal Assad regime restoring the country to its citizens. Hezbollah was weakened in Lebanon, making it possible for the Lebanese to take their country back from Iran’s proxy army. Gaza was freed of Hamas opening up the possibility of a peaceful future for the Gazan people. Anyone who fails to see these as amazing accomplishments wants Israel to fail.

None of these massive accomplishments could have occurred without the powerful guidance of Bibi Netanyahu. Urwitz, who keeps on assuring Orient readers that he is a Zionist, cannot possibly be a Zionist and support Israel’s neighbors in their attempt to bring it down. There can be no Zionism without Israel.

I invite Urwitz to acknowledge that Israel did not start the war but had every right to finish it. It would also be nice to see Urwitz acknowledge Israel’s right to defend itself. Without that, his claim to be a Zionist is bogus.

Larry Shapiro