Having recently returned from a 6 month sabbatical in Beersheva, Israel let me tell you the other side of the story that Laila El-Haddad misrepresented ("Israeli brutality — on land and at sea," June 3). Beersheva sits next to Gaza. We frequently heard rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel during our stay. Some friends live in Sderot, and their under 10-year-old children do not know life without sirens and running to shelters. Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza in 2005, leaving in place economic infrastructure.

The Palestinians rampaged and destroyed housing and businesses left behind for their livelihood and elected a terrorist regime, Hamas.

In Beersheva we witnessed Jews living side by side native Bedoin Arabs. We have many friends who work in the medical system, and all patients are treated equally regardless of ethnicity. In fact people seeking medical care are brought from Gaza into Israel on a regular basis, even though Palestinians have medical infrastructure in Gaza.

The world so quickly forgets or never knew that on November 3, 2009, in accordance with international law, Israel intercepted 500 tons of Iranian weapons aboard a ship bound for Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon. In this light, how is Israel to allow uninspected ships to enter Gaza, for which there is a legitimate blockade? In fact, if Ms. El-Hadad is so concerned about humanitarian rights, why has Israel's kidnapped soldier, Gilad Shalit, never been visited by the Red Cross and been held for ransom in return for hundreds of Palestinian terrorists and convicted murderers?

The Arab League retains responsibility for sustaining the refugee status of Palestinians since 1948, when it forbid any Arab state from any cooperation with Israel. Why should Arab states do anything differently when the world rises to their defense no matter how egregious their behavior? I fear we are witnessing the rise of modern day Nazism, and the world still loves to hate Jews and wish our destruction. God help you all!

Barbara Bernhard Scharf, Baltimore