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To the editor:
Not a day, week or month has gone by in which the Trump administration hasn’t violated the Constitution, federal laws and ethical standards. Nor has a day, week or month gone by in which the Netanyahu administration, our close ally whom our aid enables, hasn’t violated international humanitarian law in Gaza and the other occupied territories.
Trump’s assault on the rule of law is a blueprint for authoritarianism. Invoking the 1798 Alien Enemies Act during peacetime to deport immigrants, including those with legal standing, is an abuse of executive power. A number of courts have found this to be the case in decisions that often have been ignored by the administration.
This act is legal only during “a declared war between the United States and any foreign national or government, or any invasion or predatory incursion.” Under this act, there is no due process, a constitutional right granted even to non-citizens. Furthermore, to target immigrants for deportation because they protest Israeli policies and support Palestinian rights is a clear violation of the First Amendment.
Netanyahu’s assault on international humanitarian law, in response to the genocidal attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, has undermined the quest for international justice that separates civilization from barbarism. By mid-March, Israel had walked away from the stalemated ceasefire negotiations with Hamas.
It renewed both attacks on Gaza and a total blockade of food, water and medicine. This has resulted in mass starvation of 2.1 million people, while indiscriminate bombing has killed thousands of Palestinian men, women and children.
Howard Elterman
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J.Donne
Since the media isn’t always unbiased, it makes sense to read news articles from various political leanings—left, center, and right—to gain a more comprehensive understanding of current events. As you’re aware, news stories can differ significantly in content when reporting on the same subject.
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