I have known, respected and followed Gary Rosenblatt since the mid-1980s when he was the editor of the Baltimore Jewish Times. Until recently I have always considered him an honest reporter and commentator — one whose words should be listened to.
Not anymore. Recently, Rosenblatt started moving to the dark side [on Israel], and with this latest column (“Israel-Firsters Seen Edging Toward Trump,” July 1) has completed that move. Sad and disappointing.
There is much wrong with what he wrote but I will only respond to two points. First, it seems that he considers being an “Israel-firster” is a bad thing. Fighting for what is right for Israel is also fighting what is right for America and the rest of the free world. It is so disappointing that Gary does not clearly see this.
Second, to back up his misguided view, he writes about the Hillary Clinton incident of her kissing Mrs. Arafat in 1999. What Suha Arafat did or did not say is not the issue. That she would kiss, under any circumstances, the wife of the person responsible for more Jewish deaths than anyone since Hitler, is beyond the pale. This should not be an “Israel-firster” issue, but one that any real pro-Israel Jew should find unacceptable.
Gary Rosenblatt should know better.
Los Angeles
