Frank D. Slason’s letter of March 22, “Columnist flaunts allegiance to Netanyahu,” is one of the latest drops in a deluge of anti-Israel opinion, of late. While I applaud Slason for not engaging in the naked anti-Semitism I routinely see online, he is still as mistaken as those with baser motives. It is past time to review the facts:

The Palestinians had a state — had they chosen to accept it — in October 1947 that was far larger (and containing all of Jerusalem, as an international city) than any they could possibly expect today. But they wanted it all, so six Arab states tried to destroy Israel in 1948.

They failed, but in the process Egypt captured Gaza; Jordan took the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The two controlled those Palestinian territories until 1967 and never allowed one whit of Palestinian autonomy, let alone a Palestinian state. Only Israel has allowed any significant Palestinian autonomy since, maybe, Biblical times — even permitting the election of terrorists to the Palestinian authority.

Iran and numerous Arab states and factions have pledged to destroy Israel (some even to kill all Jews). I frequently read the absurd argument that Iran would never nuke Israel because “that would be suicide.” But I defy anyone to tell me when has suicide ever deterred radical Islamists?

I also would remind those who speak with “the bravery of being out of range”— whether anti-Semites or just plain (naive) peaceniks — that it would be very easy for a nuclear-armed Iran to have nuclear weapon(s) or components become “lost” or “stolen.” It would not be the first such occurrence and it could bring “death to America” on a scale that would dwarf 9/11.

Kurt Linton, Richmond