One gets the feeling from Rep. Steve Rothman’s cramming as many arguments as possible into his column explaining why President Obama is the best friend in the Oval Office that Israel has ever had that even he isn’t convinced. In truth, as any discerning reader will note, Rothman’s argument is ludicrous.

In the 18 months that President Obama has been in office, Israel is being savaged as never before. Prime Minister Erdogan of Turkey quotes the Ten Commandments to lecture Israel to stop murdering. Hugo Chavez this past week referred to Israel as a genocidal state. Even South Africa, currently attempting to curry international favor with the World Cup, joined the chorus, “strongly condemning all military aggression by Israel against innocent civilians, including those in the occupied west bank and Gaza.” They then recalled their ambassador from Jerusalem.

Why has hatred of Israel been raised to such unprecedented levels? Because the American presidency, shining herald of human liberty and democracy throughout the world, is occupied by a man who is utterly silent when Israel is defamed. President Obama’s active snubbing of Israel, on the one hand, and refusal to publicly defend Israel against slanderous attack on the other, has made it open season on the Jewish state. Today, any American ally can impugn Israel’s reputation mercilessly and pay no price in its relation with the world’s sole superpower because President Obama’s silence is itself deafening. Even Vice President Biden publicly defended Israel’s right to stop arms from being shipped into Gaza. Not so the president.

If Rep. Rothman’s intention in penning such pro-Obama propaganda in Jewish publications is to win the votes of his Jewish constituents for his upcoming race, I suggest it would be more productive if he stopped defending the indefensible and instead finally spoke out against President Obama’s unwillingness to publicly stand with a tiny democracy fighting for its life against tyrannical neighbors sworn to its destruction.

The June 25 webpoll in The Jewish Standard was: “Does being ‘pro-Israel’ mean supporting whatever Israeli government is in power?” Over 68 percent voted no. I don’t understand why the “no” vote was not 100 percent. The answer is no different than being “pro-American.” Of course it is perfectly acceptable to criticize the current government of Israel or the current administration of the United States. The loyalty belongs to the State of Israel and to the State of America. In fact, a democratic nation depends on a loyal opposition to maintain its democratic attributes. I would say that it is a requirement on all of us to state our support or opposition to a government’s behavior. We all have to be activists in support or opposition to a nation’s policies. The question becomes: What is a “loyal opposition”?

Israel is a unique country for many positive reasons: the only Jewish nation in the world, the only democracy in the Middle East, a thriving democracy in a short 62 years of existence, etc.

Israel is also a unique country because it faces extreme dangers to its very existence. Its enemies can and have lost many wars and still remain nations. Egypt is a good example. If Israel loses one war, it is the end of Israel and its people face a second holocaust. This fact must be recognized as we evaluate the conduct of Israel.

The world, including our own administration, has imposed impossible, near-suicidal standards on Israel. The U.N. concentrates on condemning Israel. Israel’s enemies get a near-free pass. Jews are loved when they are victims and hated and condemned when they can protect themselves.

So my definition of a true “pro-Israel” supporter, Jew or non-Jew, is one who recognizes the unique dangers that Israel faces. Israel’s security and existence must be considered in all evaluations of Israel. Even-handedness between Israel and its terrorist enemies is not even-handedness.

As president of Jewish Vegetarians of North America, I commend Uri L’Tzedek for its wonderful campaign to see that workers at restaurants are properly treated, consistent with basic Jewish teachings (“Kosher restaurants put ethical standards on the menu,” June 18).

However, as praiseworthy as their actions are, I respectfully urge Uri L’Tzedek and other Jewish groups to go further to avoid implicitly providing a stamp of approval to the continuation of the animal-based diets and agriculture that are:

• contributing to an epidemic of diseases in the Jewish and other communities;

• contributing to global warming and other environmental problems that threaten humanity and all of creation;

• violating basic Jewish mandates to preserve human health, treat animals with compassion, protect the environment, conserve natural resources, help hungry people, and pursue peace.

JVNA would very much welcome respectful dialogues/debates with Uri L’Tzedek and others on “Should Jews be Vegetarians?” Such discussions would constitute a kiddush haShem (a sanctification of God’s name) because it would show the applicability of eternal Jewish teachings to dietary issues, and help shift our imperiled world to a sustainable path.

Further information about these issues can be found at the JVNA Website (JewishVeg.com) and in our documentary “A Sacred Duty: Applying Jewish Values to Help Heal the World,” which can be freely seen at ASacredDuty.com.

GreenFaith is a political organization that is using faith to further this administration’s Green agenda and pass Cap and Trade legislation. GreenFaith promotes a video called “The Story of Stuff.” This video is shown to schoolchildren across the country and is a propaganda piece against our republic and the free enterprise system. The “Story of Stuff” has no place in schools, synagogues, and churches. GreenFaith has no place in synagogues and in the The Jewish Standard.

You can find the video “The Story of Stuff” on the GreenFaith Website:

http://greenfaith.org/media/press-releases/on-earth-day-greenfaith-and-the-story-of-stuff-project-release-curriculum-for-teens-that-links-consumption-and-faith

Then click on the word “here.”

For an in-depth critique on the “Story of Stuff” click on the link below:

http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles /article/198/30932/

www.greenfaith.org

It is time for the world to get the facts straight. There is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The Palestinian leadership lives in luxury on the millions of dollars of aid sent to the Palestinians. Israel allows ample supplies of food, medical supplies, and all necessities for normal living into Gaza via the crossing checkpoints. The only items not allowed into Gaza are those that can be used to manufacture explosives and rockets.

The American people will not be fooled. Americans are risking their lives fighting the Muslim terrorists in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Iran and Syria, enemies of America have sworn to annihilate the democratic State of Israel, a true friend of our country.

Our Coast Guard, Navy, and Air Force are on strong alert to intercept any attempts by terrorists to smuggle weapons, and will board any transport involved in this effort. We know that Iran has developed long-range missiles. The chief of Hezbollah in Lebanon last week boasted that Iran has supplied long-range missiles to Lebanon.

They now want their long-range missiles to reach their allies, the Hamas in Gaza. Do we not recall a fully loaded ship with bombs, missiles, guns and other weapons from Iran to Gaza? All media showed the weapons as they were displayed by Israel. Thousands of Iranian missiles have already exploded on the State of Israel. Israel is not going to commit suicide to please European nations by allowing these long-range missiles to land in Gaza.

Fifteen million tons of humanitarian supplies enter Gaza from Israel, plus millions of dollars. Occasionally, on TV, we get a view of a Gaza market plus loads of fruits, vegetables, and other supplies. The final fallacy in this entire tragic affair is that the trucks loaded with goods reached the Gaza checkpoint and Hamas refused them entry. So who is concerned about the well-being of the citizens of Gaza? Where do the tens of millions of dollars go after they reach Gaza?

Let us not forget: These terrorists, haters of our American way of life, have already infiltrated our country.

I feel as if I am standing in the valley of the dry bones. Ezekiel’s prophecy, 2,500 years ago, was formed in the milieu of the Babylonian exile. The vision of the dead arising, in life, was intended to breathe hope back into the forlorn, dispersed people of Israel. Today, I too am forlorn. The flotilla fiasco has given rise to the ire of the world. Go to the BBC “Have Your Say” Website and read its contents.

Whether or not Israel is right, whether or not we are permitting 18,000 tons of aid to enter Gaza each week, whether or not international maritime law is on our side, whether or not the IHH has ties to terrorist organizations, all of this matters not. What matters is the picture of military commandos descending on supposed innocents and the consequent loss of life. The world does not care that we immediately evacuated all of the injured to hospitals, or that we released virtually all of the aid (some of it obsolete and worthless) and detainees (well-fed and cared for) within days.

Approximately 40 years ago, one picture from Vietnam showed a Vietcong official being brutally shot in the head on a street. That picture arguably turned the tide of American support for the war. Pictures (and, nowadays, YouTube videos) have great power.

I fear that the flotilla fiasco, a trap that Israel entered on the basis of poor intelligence, is just such a turning point. No amount of public relations or fact-finding will erase the visceral impression of an army attacking “unarmed” civilians and non-combatants.

So what is Israel to do? I see only two choices. These words will be anathema to many. (1) Israel must agree to negotiate with Hamas and accept it as a real political force in the region (and lift the blockade). Or (2), Israel must resolve to eradicate Hamas at any cost, including the invasion and re-occupation of Gaza.

Does this threaten regional war? You bet. But one thing is clear. Israel has been backed into a corner by the events of the past week. It cannot stay there. Playing a waiting game, while Iran develops nuclear weapons, is not an option.

Prime Minister Netanyahu must now decide which way to go — to talk, or to make war. The middle ground is disappearing beneath our feet and becoming a new valley of dry bones.

Helen Thomas should join the United Nations. The only thing united about it is its relentless obsession with Israel-bashing. Ms. Thomas would fit right in. For her to utter such vicious remarks is repulsive. Israel was never an Arab country. Jerusalem was never a capital for anyone but the Jewish people. There are 200 million Arabs surrounding Israel. Why is there no room for 6 million Jews to live in their God-given historic homeland?

The Jewish people are tired of having to justify their existence to the entire world. We don’t want any more memorials for dead Jews. We have the right to defend ourselves. The blatant disregard of video evidence from the boat is hard for me to comprehend.

The Israeli government undertook a dangerous gut-wrenching step when they expelled 8,700 Jews from Gaza for the sake of peace. The Israelis left behind structures to have an economic base for a future state. The day the Jews left the Arabs destroyed everything and established a state of terrorists. Where was Ms. Thomas and the U.N. when 8,000 rockets were shot into residential neighborhoods. The world encouraged ethnic cleansing, and now Gaza is Judenrein.

Does the world even care that Israel provides utilities and water to Gaza? Do they know that Israel provides 15,000 tons of aid every week to Gaza? Does anyone care that Arabs live all over Israel and that Jews can’t live in Arab sections? Do you remember when two Israeli soldiers got lost and found themselves in Ramallah? We all witnessed these two Israelis ripped to pieces in the police station and their bodies thrown out of a window accompanied by cheering from an Arab crowd.

It’s only when the Jewish people rise up to defend themselves that the U.N. cries foul and forces a ceasefire. Arabs can shoot rockets and no one cares, but when the Jews build housing in Jerusalem it’s called an obstacle to peace.

There used to be glorious Jewish communities in Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Sudan, et al. They no longer exist. The Middle East, except for Israel, is almost Judenrein. If we have learned anything in our long, tumultous history, it is to rely on ourselves. We will no longer be the shtetl Jew led to slaughter, and the world better get used to it, because we’re here to stay.

In “Flotilla fallout becomes rallying cry for U.S. Jews” (June 11), Jeremy Ben-Ami, the president of J Street, is quoted as saying, “There wouldn’t have been a flotilla if Gazan children had enough food, had schools, and clean water to drink.” This statement is dangerously naïve and represents a J Street buy-in to the vicious cascade of lies about Israel that is raging across the world. The flotilla had nothing to do with helping Gazan children. It is shocking to me that the president of J Street chooses to perpetuate the lies of Israel’s enemies.