Policy, not who was here first, is what matters.

Both Maggie Goodlander and Colin Van Ostern support continued military aid to Israel and would have attended Netanyahu’s Congressional address. I know because I asked them. To support a ceasefire after Congress poured at least $12.5 billion in military aid, with an addition $20 billion in future military aid, into Israel’s arsenal is negotiating with your hands tied behind your back. Nor will nuclear-armed Israel collapse if we suspend this aid.

The U.S. had an arms embargo against Israel before and during its 1948 war, when Israel defeated the armies of five nations. Even if Netanyahu is too far gone to change course, at least our taxes won’t be bombing the heads off Palestinian babies.

Before Oct. 7, Israelis were outraged when Netanyahu, on trial for bribery and fraud, pushed through a law to prevent the Israeli Supreme Court from ruling on the prime minister’s, i.e. Netanyahu’s, fitness for office, and to allow Netanyahu himself to make that decision. Sound familiar?

On Sept. 1, a reported 500,000 Israelis demonstrated against Netanyahu’s policies. Putting that number in perspective, it is almost three times the total votes that Annie Kuster got in the 2022 election (171,636, from the Secretary of State’s website.) Can’t even one of our Democratic congressional candidates stand up for those of us in New Hampshire who abhor the Trump of Israel?

That is the candidate I wish to support-regardless of where she or he was born.

Sheila O'Leary Zakre

Concord