To the Editor:Re “As Israel Churns, Lawmakers Pass Court Overhaul” (front page, July 25):While the hard-liners in Israel may have won their battle to neuter the Supreme Court, one can ask whether or not the victory was really worth the loss of comity among the Israeli people, as the legitimacy of the government is now in question. Whatever happens next, it is a sad day for Israel and the American people who support the country, because as Abraham Lincoln once warned, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”One can only hope that Israelis can find a way to step back and regain the sense of common purpose that has been the north star of the country’s existence. Michael ScottSan FranciscoTo the Editor:I am a Los Angeles native and a Jew. Given the history of Jewish persecution, I have always taken comfort in knowing that Israel is there for me just in case something terrible were ever to happen to jeopardize a safe Jewish existence in the U.S.

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Persons: Israel Churns, Abraham Lincoln, “, Michael Scott San Locations: Israel, Michael Scott San Francisco, Los Angeles, U.S