To the Editor:
Re “Schumer Voices Harsh Criticism of Israel Leader” (front page, March 15):
My heartfelt gratitude to Senator Chuck Schumer for his bold, pointed call for removal of extremists blocking the path to peace in Israel and Palestine, and for calling out Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government’s actions as antithetical to both democracy and Judaism.
As a Jewish American I am deeply moved by Senator Schumer’s use of his platform as our highest-ranking Jewish elected official to call for peace, prosperity and security for Israel and Palestine. And for centering his words in Jewish values. The great scholar Hillel taught: “What is hateful to you do not do to your fellow. This is the whole Torah; the rest is commentary.”
During this holy time of year, when Ramadan, Easter and Passover implore us toward reflection, compassion and commitment to freedom, I hope that Senator Schumer will follow with an insistence on a permanent rather than a temporary cease-fire.
Only a permanent cease-fire will bring the hostages home, and allow massive humanitarian aid and time to reflect and work on a shared vision for freedom, self-determination, dignity, security and lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians.
Nancy Bermon
Nyack, N.Y.
To the Editor:
The imperial arrogance of some of our leaders and pundits, such as Senator Chuck Schumer, is truly astounding. It is not the job of the United States to prescribe leadership for the Israelis and the Palestinians. We should stop trying to run a puppet show over there.
It is a distraction from the greatest need of the moment — to stop the killing. Instead of imposing our political agenda, why not use our leverage with Israel to stop the killing first, and look at the politics afterward?
David Sandor
Cincinnati
To the Editor:
Re “Schumer’s Blast at Netanyahu Might Have an Unintended Effect,” by Bret Stephens and Patrick Healy (The Point, nytimes.com, March 15):
Senator Chuck Schumer’s call for new elections in Israel is a clever political move. It doesn’t commit the U.S. to actually do anything, but it puts him on the right side of the growing divide among Democrats in this country over Israel’s massive retaliation in Gaza.
If Senator Schumer really wants to change Israel’s behavior, he should support the effort by members of his own body to end U.S. shipments of arms to Israel that provide the firepower for the Israel Defense Forces’ carnage against the people of Gaza.
John E. Stafford
Rye, N.Y.
Trump’s Mideast Envoy, on the Emirates and Israel
To the Editor:
I was discouraged reading your March 11 front-page article “Dubai Retains Its Israel Pact, but Unhappily.”
The characterization of Emiratis and others as living in fear of the government speaks of an era long gone. When I visit the Emirates, I see a thriving society — Emiratis and non-Emiratis alike — that views the United Arab Emirates as a country of growth, promise, modernity and “the place to be.” The implication that the country is a repressive autocracy is inappropriate.
As to the frayed ties with Israel and the fraying Abraham Accords, no one thought this would be easy. There are decades of issues to work through. The region is living through an extraordinarily challenging time.
The Emirati leaders have been pragmatic, honest and trying to work through very significant challenges as best as they, or anyone, can. While I don’t agree with some of their public statements or positions — and, yes, there are things I wish they would do differently — I recognize the reality of the world that the U.A.E., Israel and the region live in.
Hopefully we will all soon get past these enormous challenges and horrible times. With the leadership of the U.A.E. we have a better chance of doing so.
Jason D. Greenblatt
Teaneck, N.J.
The writer was President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East.
New York’s Progress: The View From City Hall
To the Editor:
Re “Under Eric Adams, New York Is Leaderless,” by Nicole Gelinas (Opinion guest essay, March 11):
Ever since he took office in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, Mayor Eric Adams has made significant strides on three key priorities: protecting public safety, rebuilding the economy and making New York City more livable.
Ms. Gelinas accuses the Adams administration of not leading New York City to a triumphant post-pandemic economic recovery and cites office vacancies in Midtown and Lower Manhattan as the key drivers of the city’s supposed sluggishness.
Yes, we live in an era of remote work; regardless, New York City now has more total jobs than ever before than in our city’s history — more than 4.73 million — and recovered the jobs we lost during the pandemic more than a year ahead of projections. We are also building new pathways to the middle class, training New Yorkers for jobs in the green economy, and building a massive life sciences education and research campus. Additionally, we are converting vacant office space into homes.
Crime was down under the Adams administration last year, with a decrease in five of the seven major crime categories, including the largest decrease in shooting incidents in nearly 30 years. Crime is down even further this year so far, with significant declines in retail and auto theft thanks to our proactive efforts. New York City remains the safest among the 10 largest cities in America.
We’ve forever changed our city’s streetscape. We’ve already taken seven billion pounds of commercial trash off our streets and put them into containers. We’ve committed $375 million to creating new public spaces, signed the country’s largest outdoor dining program into law, expanded our open streets program and built a record number of bike lane miles.
That’s the progress the Adams administration continues to deliver.
Maria Torres-Springer
Philip Banks III
Meera Joshi
New York
The writers are, respectively, deputy mayors for housing, economic development and workforce; public safety; and operations.
What Will Haley Voters Do?
To the Editor:
Re “Why Haley Voters Should Support Biden,” by David French (column, March 11):
Mr. French makes a persuasive case that Donald Trump is out of step with conservatives. Mr. Trump has never been a Reagan conservative. In both 2016 and 2020, he ran as an isolationist who echoed Pat Buchanan more than Ronald Reagan. Conservative voters have, nonetheless, remained in his column.
The political organizer David Fleischer often says that you cannot persuade your opponents by slapping them with a fact.
Mr. French harnesses many facts to demonstrate that Nikki Haley voters’ policy views are more consonant with President Biden’s. Voting, however, is not always an act of rational calculation.
Students of voting behavior have shown that voters’ choices can be influenced by a desire for solidarity with others, a quest for meaning and a drive to satisfy expressive needs — to signal to others that the voter has common sense, is on the right side of history, or is simply a good citizen.
It is possible that many Haley voters will support President Biden this November. If they do, however, it will likely not because they see Mr. Biden as ideological kin.
Ronald P. Seyb
Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
The writer is an associate professor of political science at Skidmore College.