Sir, – Journalists such as Lara Marlowe ("Gaza residents pick up the pieces after 50 days of bombing and destruction", Front Page, September 2nd) should be commended.
Her article on the aftermath of the 50-day bombing campaign of Gaza is a reminder of the mindless destruction by the Israeli Defence Forces that was carried out this summer.
It is fair to say that people are happy that it is over for the sake of the people of Gaza, but also happy that it is not dominating the news.
People often got weary of the media coverage of the summer from Gaza, and the pictures coming out of there were hard on the psyche of any human being.
I credit Ms Marlowe for writing and The Irish Times for publishing this article and putting it on the front page. I believe articles like this need to be highlighted and published more.
It is a description of the harsh reality of what is left behind after the bombing stops and the media hype quells. – Yours, etc,
DAVID GORMAN,
Spanish Parade,
Galway.
Sir, – With its latest announcement of settlement expansion in the West Bank, Israel has again demonstrated that any apparently positive statements it makes regarding a two-state solution are disingenuous. The plan for “Eretz Israel” continues apace, although one would have difficulty seeing any reference to such a strategy in the western media. Despite not succeeding in getting rid of Hamas from the Gaza Strip, it may suit Israel to continue to have an isolated Hamas regime in Gaza which it can treat as a pariah and use as leverage for continued intransigence on peace talks.
The recent moves to a united Palestinian administration, and the attempts by Mahmoud Abbas to have the Palestinian situation dealt with by the International Criminal Court or the UN, may help bring Hamas to the negotiating table and possible dealings with a US administration. No doubt Israel will continue to undermine any attempts at a unified Palestinian cause, the ensuing delays allowing it to continue to erode physically the foundations for a viable Palestinian state.
Other current examples of annexation, such as those in Ukraine, Iraq and Syria, have brought forth US economic sanctions and air strikes, but it seems only mild rebukes are available when Israel carries out an illegal land grab following its recent collective punishment in Gaza. Thus any faith the Palestinians have in western sincerity for their cause is eroded and the message of extremism made more palatable to disillusioned Palestinian youth. All of which ultimately serve to undermine the future security of the Israeli state, and so the cycle of violence continues. – Yours, etc,
BARRY WALSH,
Linden Avenue,
Blackrock, Cork.