"Not in my name"
Letter in today’s Haaretz English internet edition:

"It is with great astonishment that I viewed a whole group of politically correct Jews acting like morons on television tonight. On the local news here in Chicago I saw a group calling themselves Not In My Name (www.nimn.org) stating that Israelis were dying because of Ariel Sharon's own policies.

I am quite certain they feel they are taking a brave stand with this controversial view. The reality, however, is that they are apologists opposed to Israel's acting in self-defense in the face of murderous attacks by an enemy that does not recognize its right to exist.

They get on television and state that Israel brings murder on itself by being too tough. By that same logic, the Holocaust could be blamed on the Jews for not assimilating properly. The same reasoning has fallen on deaf ears when people have criticized United States foreign policy for bringing on the 9/11 attacks. Sheer idiocy. Their organization does not speak in my name. It is certainly not a mainstream view here.

I am a Chicago Jew and I am appalled by the short-sightedness of this criticism. The whole argument, indeed the whole organization, is predicated on the false argument that Israel is acting in their name. Israel never said it was acting in anyone's name except Israel's.

They took it upon themselves to issue a policy position that gives aid and comfort to the enemy of a country that is not theirs. If these Not In My Name Jews were really brave they would renounce their ancestral right to become Israeli citizens. The fact that they don't, but instead choose to take cheap shots from the safety of their suburban Chicago perches speaks volumes.

Steven Pollack

Glencoe, IL"

Maybe we could put them in touch with the British chapter, who could explain how to go about it (renouncing... and so on).

Actually, I took a peek at their website. They really do believe they're helping everyone out, Israel as much as the Palestinians. My best advice to them: Go read Ehud Ya'ari. I can't emphasize enough that this guy knows what he's talking about.