Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D.

To the Editor:

I strenuously object to your claim that politicians’ disagreement with President Obama’s speech on the Middle East is “pandering on Israel in the hopes of winning Jewish support” (“The Sorry State of the Peace Process: Politicians in Washington are making things worse,” editorial, May 27).

First, isn’t it possible that criticism of the president may simply be due to an honest difference of opinion? Why does it have to be labeled “pandering”?

Second, it is not just Jewish Americans who support Israel. In a politically polarized country like ours, it is remarkable how strong the support for Israel is among all segments of our society, including Christians, atheists, rural, urban, East, West and so on.

Israel enjoys unusually broad bipartisan support from our politicians because it is the will of the American people. As important, that support exists because the United States-Israel alliance is mutually beneficial on so many levels (security, economics and technology, to name a few).

To label support for Israel “pandering” is pejorative and insulting.

RICHARD SCHLUSSEL
Englewood, N.J., May 27, 2011

Note from KBJ: If you disagree with the editorial board of the New York Times, you're not just wrong; you're benighted, deluded, selfish, craven, stupid, or malicious. The Times used to contribute to public debate. Now it debases it.