Contrast Israel and its occupation of Palestinian territory. Israel, instead of experiencing a chill in its dealings with the United States, enjoys full commercial relations and gains substantial military aid. The Israeli prime minister receives a standing ovation in Congress.

Alan Dershowitz is a sensible voice, but his claim of double standards when professors call for a boycott of Israeli academic institutions doesn’t hold up ( “Israel and the myopic BDS movement,” Op-ed, Dec. 27). The United States is not close friends with many other human rights violators and sometimes threatens or fights wars against them.

Who benefits from double standards here?

I oppose sanctions, even after 46 years of occupation and 700,000 settlers. This perhaps reflects my own “pro-Israel” double standards. But if this situation continues, how long without sanctions? At 900,000 settlers? One million? 1.5 million? After 60 years of occupation? 75 years? A century? Then, even for me, these double standards that favor Israel could no longer exist.


The tragedies are on both sides. Four Israeli prime ministers have said the lack of peace and the occupation means continuing undemocratic Israeli rule over another people.

So let us hope for a two-state solution, an end to undemocratic rule over others, and peace and security for both Israel and Palestine.

James Adler