Letter to the editor: Fetterman should rethink support of Netanyahu

In the last five months more than 30,000 humans have died violently in Gaza as a result of the military action ordered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel. Sen. John Fetterman has stated: “We have an opportunity to stand with Israel in this situation, and this is what I have decided to do.” This is consistent with the statement appearing on his website: “I unequivocally support … aid to Israel. The United States has a moral obligation to be in lockstep with our ally as they confront this threat.”

The senator is mistaken; we are under no “moral obligation” to “unequivocally support” and remain “in lockstep” with a set of policies whose results are so wantonly cruel.

“Standing with Israel” means supporting the nation and the people of Israel. It does not mean uncritically endorsing every policy Netanyahu may be pursuing. The result of his response to the indefensibly brutal attack by Hamas on Oct. 7 has been the death of over 30,000 and placing more than a half a million in imminent danger of starvation. This violates any moral proportionality of response to the deaths of 1,200 Israelis at the hands of Hamas and the taking of more than 240 hostages.

President Biden spoke with Netanyahu and, according to the AP, “Biden’s message marks a sharp change in his administration’s steadfast support for Israel’s war efforts, with the U.S. leader for the first time threatening to rethink his backing.” The time has come for Fetterman to rethink his “unequivocal” support for Netanyahu.

George H. Leiner

Greensburg