Read into novelist's take
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WHEN A novelist writes an op-ed about Israel and Palestine, and in her second sentence says the Palestine National Theatre in Jerusalem was “shut down by machine-gun toting Israeli soldiers in flak jackets,’’ you need not read the rest of the piece to know her agenda.
Israeli soldiers do not “tote machine guns,’’ which are far too heavy and too clumsy. But, like just about every foot soldier in the world today, they carry automatic rifles. And, in view of terrorist attacks by Palestinians, wearing flak jackets is wise.
But to Claire Messud, who writes fiction, soldiers in flak jackets toting machine guns sure are ferocious. Just like the burly, grim-faced state troopers, heavily armed with loaded machine guns and semi-automatic pistols, who I’ve seen patrolling at Logan Airport, suspiciously eyeing peaceful passengers.
Robert Skole
Boston
