Sharon Jean Fertig: Conspiracy theories about Israel abound

In the My Turn “Past time to end wars in Ukraine, Palestine,” [Aug. 8], the author states that many of the Israelis killed on Oct. 7 were killed by the Israel Defense Forces when they were killing Hamas operatives. This is false and a conspiracy theory and belongs in the dustbin with other conspiracy theories such as there were no sexual crimes committed on Oct. 7, and Holocaust denial.

The author claims that the Biden administration has unconditionally supported the right-wing government of Israel, when he has not. Biden snubbed Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by waiting four weeks after his inauguration to call him.

Additionally, the aid package for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan passed by Congress this month includes a $9 billion aid packet for Gaza. The column also accuses the Israeli government of genocide in Gaza. There is no definition of genocide that applies to what is going on in Gaza now. If there were, why would Israel warn people when they are trying to get at militants? Why do they drop flyers and text people to leave a building or an area? That is hardly consistent with systematic, deliberate killing.

The writer has things backwards. If he read the Hamas charter, or listened to its leaders, he would learn that the charter has nothing to do with the rights of individuals it rules. The only subject it deals with is destroying Israel and the Jewish people who live there, otherwise known as ethnic cleansing and genocide.

Sharon Jean Fertig

Bloomington, Indiana