Ryan Rodrick Beiler’s photo (“Enemy Trees?” August 2014) dramatically captures the destruction of more than 1,500 mature fruit trees and grapevines bulldozed by the Israeli military. The deed itself and the meaning it symbolizes are heartbreaking!
I’m reminded of a passage from Deuteronomy 20:19 that provides instructions on how to conduct war: “If you besiege a town for a long time, making war against it in order to take it, you must not destroy its trees by wielding an ax against them. Although you may take food from them, you must not cut them down. Are trees in the field human beings that they should come under siege from you?” The symbolism of peace and hope for the future is captured by the story of the dove returning to Noah with an olive leaf. This and more has been destroyed by this dastardly act!
Rev. Bernard Kern
North Richland Hills, Texas
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