Madam, - Your Editorial of November 20th, "Anti-Semitic Trend", is a classic example of the confused and dangerous rhetoric which masquerades as even-handed journalism within the pages of The Irish Times.
Yes, the Government is to be congratulated on its draft resolution on anti-Semitism which it proposes to bring before the General Assembly of the United Nations. The resolution as currently framed deserves the support of all. Whether it will actually receive that support, get to the floor of the General Assembly and be adopted in its current form remains to be seen.
While you correctly state in your Editorial that there is "a real need for vigilance" because of an increase in anti-Jewish rhetoric around the world, you go on to state that such rhetoric has been "echoed" in popular Arab and Islamic media and fanned by organisations such as Al-Qaeda. The reality of course is that since the foundation of the State of Israel in 1948, the official controlled media of most of the Arab States in the Middle East has been the primary source for anti-Jewish (not merely anti-Israeli) rhetoric and not only the media but also the educational systems of these States have fanned the flames of hatred and anti-Jewish sentiment. To state, as you do, that such rhetoric is fanned by the continuing occupation of Palestinian territory by Israel is not only simplistic but historically inaccurate.
There was no shortage of such rhetoric between 1948 and 1967 when the West Bank and the Gaza Strip were effectively occupied by Jordan and Egypt. In the context of the Palestinian Authority area itself, subsequent to the Oslo Accords at a time when the Israeli Army had vacated most of the Palestinian Authority area and all major Palestinian cities, the European Union funded and has continued to fund a Palestinian education system which fomented hatred and fundamentalism and laid the foundation for an endless supply of young suicide bombers.
You are right when you state it is not anti-Semitic to criticise action taken by the Israel government or Israeli government policy. It is, however, anti-Semitic to advocate that the Israeli government should take no military action against those who use suicide bombers to target, murder and maim men, women and children in its cities and towns.
This is the ideology of the pogrom - that is, the expression of a view that when Jews are attacked and killed or injured they have no right to defend themselves. Is there any other State or government in the world which would be criticised for attempting to defend its citizens against such atrocities?
You write that "a just settlement of the \ conflict is the best way to tackle anti-Semitism around the world". It seems it is the view of The Irish Times that until there is some unattainable and unspecified "just settlement" of the conflict, it is perhaps not acceptable but at least understandable that anti-Semitism continues to escalate around the world and that Jewish communities are targeted.
This is the ultimate logic of your editorial position of November 20th. It is a disreputable position for a paper of your stature to take.
The best way to tackle anti-Semitism is to confront it head on without qualification. To its credit, it seems this is now understood by the Government but not by your Editorial writer. - Yours, etc.,
ALAN SHATTER, Dublin 2.