To the Editor: I implore you to stand with the Jews and Israel, to recognize Jews as equal members of humanity and Israel as an equal member among the family of nations. In a speech to the UN just last week, Israeli Envoy on Antisemitism Michal Cotler-Wunsh offers a global perspective, comparing Oct. 7 to Hitler’s Kristalnacht.

“We may be the bloody canary in the mineshaft, but the mineshaft WILL collapse. If we fail [to condemn] of Hamas, we are failing to protect our shared humanity, our shared principles of life and liberty.” The Islamic genocidal regime doesn’t stop at Jews, it comes for all “infidels” as it, she says, “intends to build an alternate reality on the rubble of our shared civilization.”

Israel is on the front lines, fighting for all of us. Those of you who want a ceasefire, I ask you, what would that accomplish? Here’s what: Hamas would regroup, rebuild, and then repeat their attacks on Israel, with greater force and brutality than Oct. 7. They have openly stated their intent. They also care not for Palestinian lives, using their own people as human shields and their death counts to stoke anti-Zionist rage. Gazan infrastructure is almost nonexistent, as billions of dollars granted the “refugees” has been funneled to the Hamas war machine with the singular purpose of annihilation of Jews, as well as allowing Hamas’ upper echelon to live like kings. If you care about the Palestinians, then please cut the criticism of Israel as she navigates the extremely dangerous, difficult and now, unpopular work of crushing Hamas.

And please, remember, Israel has a right and a duty to protect and defend its citizens. We cannot lose sight of the 1,400 brutally murdered, and the 239 hostages dragged into Gazan tunnels. It’s hell on earth for those civilians and their loved ones. So again, would a ceasefire help them? No, not at all. There is no doubt that war is ugly, horrible. The loss of lives so pointless, tragic. The plight of the Palestinians is a sad reality of what happens when a society is taken over by a Jew-hating terrorist regime. Yes, the Palestinians have been abandoned, used as pawns, by their own ruling party and yes, even by their own neighboring Arab brothers. Support Israel, as she is “the hope.”

Ellen Levine

Hurley