The left's odd embrace of African migrants

I consider myself a member of the left: I see a binational state as the end of the Zionist project, and feel that privatization is a disaster. Yet I cannot understand the "Love the Stranger" leaflet issued by the spiritual leaders of the "left." How do they reconcile the pleasant, politically correct slogans with the facts of life?

There are tens of millions in Africa whose life's dream is to reach one of the First World countries. All the countries in Europe are fighting against this. Israel is the only place that Africans can be reach by land.

We have no possibility of solving the problems of Africa, in addition to several problems of our own - security, social inequality, health care and more. Are the signatories to the leaflet willing to accept a million "strangers" from Africa, or only 100,000?

Those leftists agree that Israel has a right to decide who will enter its gates. All well and good, but how exactly? Will we set up a border crossing at Nitzana, let's say, and any African who wants to come to the Promised Land will report there and receive a visa?

Anyone who has ever been a soldier knows that an obstacle that is not controlled with an observation point and armed personnel is not effective. The fence now being built will not prevent infiltration, because it may be controlled by an observation point, but not with arms. We will not be able to order a soldier to open fire on civilians who cross it.

In that case, the only way to stop the flooding of the country with Africans is to deny a positive incentive for migration. In other words, by preventing the realization of the African dream: There is no work and no livelihood, no hope - just prison. Perhaps it would be cheaper to come to some sort of "arrangement" with the real rulers of Sinai - the Bedouin.

Giora Heyman

Moshav Lachish

A mouthpiece for hatred

In response to "MK Anastassia Michaeli: Most gay people commit suicide at 40," June 15

MK Anastassia Michaeli (Yisrael Beitenu ) has given us an opportunity to get to know her and her benighted opinions with her biting words about the LGBT community - lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

With her words - suggesting that gays had suffered sexual trauma as children, and that they tend to commit suicide by 40 - she opened my eyes to the danger to the life of my gay son, which stems from homophobic opinions like hers.

The term "homophobia" describes irrational disgust, deterrence or fear of people who belong to this community, which are expressed through discrimination, rejection, hatred, disdain, aggressiveness or violence against people because of their sexual proclivity.

The main problem of the LGBTs and their families lies in their need to confront homophobia. As the mother of a gay son, who thankfully is not unfortunate and has not been a victim of sexual assault, I'm concerned by Michaeli's words.

Michaeli has become a mouthpiece for hatred. Fortunately her remarks were condemned by a large percentage of her friends in the Knesset. But even if her words represent only herself and not the party to which she belongs, they are liable to have a destructive effect on all of society.

As the mother of a gay son and as a volunteer in Tehila (a non-profit support group for parents of LGBTs ), I would be happy to meet with her in order to open her eyes.

Name withheld upon request