My letter in The New York Times about the “Covid blame games”

The following is a letter to the editor that I wrote, which appeared in The New York Times, about casting blame amid the Covid crisis:

December 9, 2021

Re “Let’s End the Covid Blame Games,” by Bret Stephens (column, Dec. 1):

Bret Stephens’s assessment of the “Covid blame games” is both accurate and timely. With over 5.2 million deaths worldwide due to Covid, including more than 790,000 deaths in the United States, this virus has proved that it does not differentiate between Democrats and Republicans, blue states and red states. It is an equal opportunity virus. People are losing their lives and families are tragically losing loved ones, regardless of their political ideologies.

As the pandemic continues wreaking havoc on a global scale, it behooves us to work collaboratively to combat this dangerous virus. Impugning others for its rapid proliferation is misguided and does a tremendous disservice to the countless individuals who have been adversely affected. We are all in this together.

N. Aaron Troodler

Bala Cynwyd, Pa.

My letter in the Philadelphia Inquirer about Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers

The following is a letter to the editor that I wrote, which appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer, regarding the current situation concerning Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers:

Time to move on from Ben Simmons

October 24, 2021

To the Editor:

Responding to “Sixers suspend Simmons for a game” (Oct. 20), instead of the excitement that inherently comes with the start of the NBA season, the Sixers are dealing with a degree of drama that detracts from the team’s dogged pursuit of a championship. Ben Simmons has morphed into a disgruntled superstar whose troubling insubordination has become a major distraction for his teammates and the Sixers organization. With a $33 million annual salary, Simmons’ holdout and refusal to participate in team activities will certainly not engender sympathy among Sixers fans and must be addressed accordingly by team officials. His conduct is antithetical to the concept of a team and the disruption to the Sixers’ chemistry is likely beyond repair. The Sixers cannot coddle Simmons and must put the overall needs of the team ahead of the personal needs of one of its star players, who has explicitly expressed his desire to leave Philadelphia.

N. Aaron Troodler

Bala Cynwyd

My letter in The New York Times about the U.S. Supreme Court

The following is a letter to the editor that I wrote, which appeared in The New York Times, about the U.S. Supreme Court in response to a recent article regarding “a court increasingly associated with partisanship” that “is suffering a distinct drop in public support.”

October 5, 2021

To the Editor:

Re “Abortion Leads Charged Docket in Court Return” (front page, Oct. 4):

As an institution whose independence is paramount to its very existence and whose objectivity is critical to its ability to carry out its judicial duties, the Supreme Court cannot afford to become mired in partisan politics.

The integrity of the court becomes compromised when the public perception is that personal political ideologies are impeding the justices’ ability to adjudicate cases without a degree of bias.

When the justices feel compelled to publicly defend their rulings as being devoid of politics, it is time to reassess this once hallowed body and focus on returning it to its original constitutional mandate. The Supreme Court is about public trust, not public polling, and the justices should focus on impartiality, not popularity.

With a docket replete with matters of great consequence that will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our nation, the justices must take great care to purge partisanship from the court.

N. Aaron Troodler

Bala Cynwyd, Pa.

My letter in The New York Times about Spain’s betrayal of Sephardic Jews

The following is a letter to the editor that I wrote, which appeared in The New York Times, regarding Spain’s betrayal of Sephardic Jews after the country’s reversal on the issue of granting them citizenship.

August 5, 2021

To the Editor:

Re “Spain’s Reparations for Jews Become Elusive” (news article, July 25):

While Spain’s 2015 pronouncement that it would confer citizenship on Sephardic Jews was commendable, its about-face is reprehensible.

When King Ferdinand callously ordered the expulsion of Spain’s Jews in 1492, it was a cataclysmic event and a truly dark moment in the annals of Jewish history. Tens of thousands of Jews were banished from Spain, leading to numerous deaths along their arduous journey and forcible conversions that robbed countless Jews of their heritage and faith.

After extending a proverbial olive branch and pledging to do the right thing for people of Sephardic Jewish descent, Spain sadly seems to have reneged.

The fact that Jews with legitimate claims to Spanish citizenship and duly completed applications would be treated so cavalierly, either being completely ignored or summarily rejected on fallacious grounds, is utterly shameful and an affront to their ancestors, whose lives were shattered when they were forcibly removed from the country they called home.

N. Aaron Troodler

Bala Cynwyd, Pa.

My letter in The New York Times about the paper’s coverage of Israel

The following is a letter to the editor that I wrote, which appeared in The New York Times, regarding the paper’s coverage of Israel in response to a recent front-page article entitled “The Misery of Life Under Occupation,” which I found to be entirely one-sided and deeply disturbing.

May 25, 2021

To the Editor:
 
Re “The Misery of Life Under Occupation” (front page, May 23):
 
While there are certainly Palestinians who yearn for a better life that is devoid of strife, your decision to impugn Israel for the present state of affairs is disingenuous and unjustified.
 
Israel’s enduring struggle for its very survival stems from an array of existential threats, including rocket attacks aimed at civilian centers and heinous acts of terror carried out by militant extremists intent on obliterating Israel. It is due to the actions of the terrorists, whose wanton disregard for human life extends to both Israelis and rank-and-file Palestinians. Israel has no choice but to carry out security measures intended to safeguard its people.
 
Painting a picture that portrays Israel as the aggressor while failing to hold Hamas and other terrorist organizations accountable for fomenting violence that adversely affects the daily lives of Palestinians is irresponsible. At a time of rising anti-Semitism and increasing anti-Israel animus, I encourage you to put a greater emphasis on impartiality in your reporting.
 
N. Aaron Troodler
 Bala Cynwyd, Pa.

My letter in the Philadelphia Inquirer about the guilty verdict in the Derek Chauvin murder trial

The following is a letter to the editor that I wrote, which appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer on April 26, 2021, regarding the jury’s verdict in Derek Chauvin’s murder trial and what comes next:

Working toward police reform

Regarding “Cheer, but it’s not over, not even close” (April 21), Jenice Armstrong adroitly captures the feelings we should all have in the wake of the guilty verdict in Derek Chauvin’s murder trial. While we revel in the jubilation we feel knowing that justice was served in this particular case, this is a beginning, not an ending. Our country’s policing needs systematic change, and one guilty verdict is not enough to effectuate the transformation that is required. We cannot forget that Daunte Wright, Breonna Taylor, and far too many other Black people have tragically lost their lives to police misconduct and excessive force in a cycle of violence that underscores the raw racial divisions that regrettably still exist in our nation. It behooves all of us, irrespective of our race or religion, to ensure that George Floyd’s death was not in vain, and to use this verdict as a springboard to advocate for the wholesale reforms that we desperately need and which are long overdue.

N. Aaron Troodler, Bala Cynwyd

It’s time to terminate the PA’s terrorist payment program

The following is an op-ed that I wrote, which appeared in The Jerusalem Post on April 18, 2021, regarding the Palestinian Authority’s ‘pay to slay’ program in light of the news that the United States intends to restore aid to the PA:

It’s time to terminate the PA’s terrorist payment program

It was around 10 p.m. on March 11, 2011 when Hakim Maazan Niad Awad and Amjad Mahmud Fauzi Awad jumped a fence and infiltrated the Israeli community of Itamar. After stealing an M-16 rifle and ammunition from an empty house, the two Palestinian terrorists entered the Fogel home, where they stabbed to death Udi, 36, and Ruth, 35, Fogel, and their children Yoav, 11, Elad, 4, and Hadas, 3 months. Two other children – Ro’ie, 8, and Yishai, 2 – were spared because the terrorists did not notice them sleeping in another room.

The brutal murder of five members of the Fogel family by terrorists who set out to kill Jews was a heinous crime that shocked the conscience of the world and earned global condemnation. Regrettably, the Palestinian Authority (PA) viewed the terrorists not as assassins, but as heroes.

It is difficult not to recall these barbaric murders after learning that the United States is restoring over a quarter of a billion dollars to the Palestinians. Instead of willingly providing the Palestinians with a financial windfall, the US should have demanded the cessation of the PA’s reprehensible practice of paying terrorists before releasing any funds.

Ten years after the horrific attack on the Fogel family, the killers are enjoying a pay raise courtesy of the PA, which has increased the payments it makes to them by 50%. According to Palestinian Media Watch, the Awads, who are serving life sentences in an Israeli prison, have received $1,203 monthly. With the raise, they will now get $1,806 per month. In the ten years since they murdered the Fogels, the terrorists have each received over $100,000.

The PA’s practice of rewarding terrorists who attack Israelis by remunerating their families through its infamous ‘pay to slay’ system is abhorrent and unconscionable. Irrespective of whether the PA compensates families of incarcerated terrorists based on the length of their prison sentence or on their financial well-being, the underlying structure of these repugnant payments is predicated on venerating terrorists and espousing further violence. The PA’s program not only condones terrorism; it unabashedly incentivizes it, and that incitement plays a deadly role in the tragic tale of terror in the Middle East.

An inordinate amount of money has been squandered over the years on terror-related expenditures through this outrageous terrorist compensation program. The PA may have paid as much as $181 million in 2020, as was recently acknowledged by Qadri Abu Bakr, the Palestine Liberation Organization’s Commissioner for Prisoners’ Affairs, to The Times of Israel. Approximately 7,500 Palestinian terrorists released from prison receive these payments, as well as 4,500 others who are still incarcerated. Over seven percent of the PA’s budget goes toward the ‘pay to slay’ system.

A 2018 law that requires Israel to deduct the cost of the terrorists’ salaries from the tax revenues it collects monthly for the PA has not deterred the PA from continuing its despicable program, thereby signaling that Mahmoud Abbas and his government would rather pay terrorists than accept much-needed funds that they could theoretically use to improve the lives of ordinary Palestinians.

Furthermore, the Taylor Force Act, named for an American military veteran murdered by Palestinian terrorists in 2016, explicitly prohibits the US from providing monetary assistance that directly benefits the PA unless it revokes its ‘pay to slay’ system, among other measures intended to curb terrorism. Despite the restrictions on foreign aid that result from compensating terrorists, the PA has steadfastly refused to end its contemptible practice.

The announcement that the United States is restoring approximately a quarter of a billion dollars to the Palestinians raises serious questions. Why would the US send such a substantial amount of money when the PA continues paying terrorists? Why would they send $150 million through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, which has a long and troubling history of engaging in antisemitic and anti-Israel behavior? Why would the US not insist on a commitment from the PA to end its incitement of terrorism, and demand that Palestinian schools stop indoctrinating students with antisemitic and anti-Israel sentiments?

Moreover, how is the US sending money to the Palestinians in light of the Taylor Force Act? Even if the funds are not sent directly to the PA, the money is going to Palestinian entities and organizations that have direct ties to, and may very well operate as an extension of, the PA.

Until such time as the PA stops glorifying martyrdom and lionizing terrorists, it must be taken to task by the international community. The termination of the PA’s government-sanctioned sponsorship of terrorism must be a prerequisite before any more foreign aid dollars can flow to the Palestinians. Inaction in the face of this shameful practice is moral malpractice and a dereliction of diplomatic duty.

The writer is the principal of Red Apple Strategies, LLC, a public relations and strategic communications firm, and has extensive experience in the Jewish nonprofit world. Follow him on Twitter: @troodler

New president, new day for the American Jewish community

The following is an op-ed that I wrote, which appeared in the Washington Jewish Week on February 3, 2021, about President Biden, the American Jewish community and the state of Israel:

New president, new day for the American Jewish community

With our nation still reeling from the insurrection in our nation’s capital, struggling to move past the divisiveness that threatens to tear apart the fabric of our democratic society and contending with a pandemic, all eyes are on Joe Biden as he enters the Oval Office after nearly 50 years in public service.

As he works to unify our nation, Biden will find himself facing some skeptics in the Jewish community. There are many American Jews who believe our new president has big shoes to fill and question whether he is capable of doing so. The fact is, former President Donald Trump engendered tremendous support in pockets of the Jewish community because of his actions relative to Israel.

For many pro-Israel voters, Trump was a dream come true. Whether it was facilitating the normalization of ties between Israel and several of its Arab neighbors, recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and relocating the embassy to Jerusalem, proclaiming Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights or freezing aid to the Palestinian Authority because of the remuneration it makes to families of terrorists, Trump undoubtedly claimed iconic status in the eyes of numerous individuals who view the U.S.-Israel relationship as paramount

However, let us not forget that Biden has a lengthy track record when it comes to the American Jewish community and strengthening the bond between the United States and its sole democratic ally in the Middle East. Joe Biden has been outspoken regarding the need to combat anti-Semitism, further enhance the U.S.-Israel relationship and preserve Jewish values in the United States. He is a steadfast supporter of Israel, not just through his words, but through his actions as well.

It was during his time as vice president that the administration entered into a historic 10-year memorandum of understanding that pledged a record $38 billion for Israel’s security. Biden also played a role in bolstering Israel’s missile defense system, including the lifesaving Iron Dome, and he strongly opposes the BDS movement, which attempts to delegitimize Israel. During the Democratic primary, Biden set himself apart from some other candidates when he said that placing conditions on aid to Israel would be a “gigantic mistake” and “absolutely outrageous.”

As president, Biden will work to ensure that the United States remains committed to Israel’s security and its ability to maintain the qualitative military edge that is essential to its survival, and will call on the Palestinian Authority to condemn terrorism, curb incitement and cease its despicable “pay to slay” program.

At a time when there are Democratic members of Congress who unabashedly criticize Israel and far too many discordant voices in the Democratic Party concerning the U.S.-Israel relationship, it is critical that American Jewry and the pro-Israel community have a stalwart supporter like Biden leading his party. American support for Israel must remain bipartisan in order to be sustainable, and Biden has the ability and opportunity to be the champion we need.

The domestic issues facing Biden are important and indisputably require his immediate attention. However, he must make certain that the U.S.-Israel relationship, the frightening rise in anti-Semitism and the ongoing efforts to delegitimize Israel are not put on the back burner. If history is our guide and his past performance is any indication, Biden will not allow these issues to fester, even as he addresses other pressing matters.

Biden can and will be a partner for the American Jewish community and the state of Israel. Although there will inevitably be areas of disagreement, it is imperative that we “listen to one another” and “show respect for another,” as the president pronounced in his inaugural address.

As he spoke to the nation moments after taking the oath of office, Biden quoted from Psalms when he said, “weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning.” Regardless of who you voted for on Election Day, it is unquestionably the beginning of a new dawn in America and the sun is rising on a new day for our nation. Whereas “joy cometh in the morning,” I believe that when it comes to U.S.-Israel ties, this new day ought to bring with it a sense of optimism for what tomorrow holds in store.

The United States’ strategic relationship with Israel is replete with military, security and technological collaboration. It is a longstanding and mutually beneficial partnership, and it is vital that it prevails with bipartisan support. The American Jewish community should be united in the hope that when it comes to issues pertaining to Israel, Biden will be the leader we know he can be and pray he will be.

N. Aaron Troodler is the principal of Red Apple Strategies LLC, a public relations and strategic communications firm, and has extensive experience in the Jewish nonprofit world. Follow him on Twitter: @troodler