Letters to the editor
Readers respond
Michael Oren’s false syllogism
Michael Oren’s op-ed, “The brutal syllogism of this war is a deathtrap for Israel” (July 5), is based on a false syllogism. He explains that if A equals B and B equals C, then A equals C. In his argument A is Hezbollah won’t accept a cease-fire unless Hamas does, and B is Hamas will not agree to a cease-fire. From these two premises, it can only follow that C: Hezbollah will not agree to a cease-fire, rather than the conclusion that Israel will go to war against Hezbollah. Michael Oren is, of course, free to argue any position he likes, but he should not blame Aristotle or the syllogism. Logic is logic. In fact, The Times of Israel recently reported that Hassan Nasrallah, the head of Hezbollah, has declared that
if Hamas reaches a cease-fire deal with Israel, Hezbollah will also cease attacks. Hamas and Israel, through intermediaries, now seem closer to reaching a cease-fire agreement. Wouldn’t that be preferable to a interminable war that can only lead to unending death and destruction on all sides and make the rescue of the surviving Israeli hostages less likely?
Jacobo Bielak
Squirrel Hill
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