To the Editor:

Bill Slavick twists truth on its head in order to malign Israel, "U.S. to blame for helping the bully of the block," (April 14). False and inflammatory claims of "ethnic cleansing" serve only to demonize Israel. Sympathy and concern for the Palestinian people is one thing. But to make no mention of the murderous actions of extremists and the daily barrage of rockets from Gaza attacking Israeli cities and civilians completely ignores Israel's very real security needs in the region.

Israel, like every sovereign nation, has the right to defend its land and its people. The 10-year agreement that President Bush has requested from Congress will help Israel cope with growing strategic threats, which include Iran going nuclear in defiance of the international community, and Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas continuing their arms build up. Recent polls show that 65 percent of Americans agree that Israel can be counted on as a strong, reliable U.S. ally and the same number believe that Israel is serious about reaching a peace agreement with the Palestinians.

Mr. Slavick also fuels the flames of conspiracy theories about Jews by implying that Israel is somehow to blame for 9-11 and the bombing of the USS Cole. Rather than dying away in the dustbins of history, 9-11 conspiracy theories have become a core part of the belief system of anti-Semites and millions of others around the world.