The Nov. 6 My Word column, “U.S. should back off support for Israel,” by Douglas Bevins, demonstrates, at best, a misunderstanding of the basics when it comes to the lack of peace between the Palestinian Arabs and Israel.

Bevins misdirects an accusation of ethnic cleansing at Israel. The peril of ethnic persecution belongs to the Christian communities under the rule of the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, many of whom left or even fled Bethlehem and Gaza, respectively. In addition, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has said, “I will never allow a single Israeli to live among us on Palestinian lands.”

The real reason for the lack of peace is that the Palestinian Authority and the terrorist organization Hamas are engaged in a joint effort to destroy the Jewish Nation of Israel.

While referring to “the victims,” Bevins does not mention the 3-month-old baby girl and the 21-year-old woman who were murdered when a Hamas terrorist plowed his car into their bodies and injured 13 others, or the tens of thousands of Jews who have been displaced from their homes in an effort to make peace.

Bevins doesn’t even mean the Palestinian Arab children who are indoctrinated in a culture of martyrdom and violence by PA-sponsored programs that glorify suicide bombers.

At best, Bevins’ column is a result of a severe misunderstanding. At worst, he disregards Israel’s painful efforts to make peace throughout its history, which have only been met with increased terrorism.

Sharona Whisler executivedirector, Southeast Region, Zionist Organization of America

This letter appeared in the Orlando Sentinel and may be found here.