Virginia Episcopalian Magazine Winter 2015 Issue | Page 2

Letter to the Editor

Who We Are

While I sympathize with the Palestinian civilians who are
casualties of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas,
I must take issue with Nina Cullers’ letter in your Fall 2014
issue of the Virginia Episcopalian. One must first understand
that the nation of Israel is struggling for its very existence.
It is surrounded by enemies, including Hamas, whose stated
goal is its destruction and the extermination of all of its
Jewish citizens, i.e., a second Holocaust.

Contrary to what Ms. Cullers implies, Israel does not
target civilians. Hamas, in its cowardly approach, intentionally
hides its missile launchers within Palestinian civilian enclaves
– schools, neighborhoods, hospital compounds, etc. Israel is
forced to counterattack the enemy where it is, and civilian
casualties result. This is intentional by Hamas in a cynical
effort to sway world opinion against Israel.

Hamas, conversely, does deliberately target Israeli
civilians with its thousands of indiscriminate rocket attacks
and suicide bombers. What choice does Israel have? What
would you have them do? There have been many peace
agreements with Israel making concessions; what it always
gets in return is rockets and suicide bombers.

As has been said, were Hamas and its allies to lay down
their weapons tomorrow, there would indeed be peace.
Were Israel to lay down its arms, it would be annihilated.
Look at both sides of the coin.

The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia

Ted Williams
Ware Parish, Gloucester

Virginia Episcopalian
WINTER 2015
Volume 124 Issue 1
Published by the Diocese of Virginia – Circulation 19,000
Bishop: The Rt. Rev. Shannon S. Johnston
Bishop Suffragan: The Rt. Rev. Susan E. Goff
Assistant Bishop: The Rt. Rev. Edwin F. Gulick Jr.
Editor: Emily Cherry
Design/Layout: John Dixon
Advertising/Copyediting Assistant: Kendall Martin

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The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia is a part of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the
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Virginia Episcopalian (ISSN 15353621, USPS 019711) is published quarterly by the Episcopal
Diocese of Virginia, periodicals postage paid in Richmond, 23232-9998. Copyright 2014.
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