Sir, – In his analysis, Mark Weiss warns of "brinkmanship on both sides" ("Israelis and Palestinians play risky game", January 5th). How is attempting to hold Israel to account through the International Criminal Court "brinkmanship"? How is using multilateral mechanisms such as the UN Security Council to end the occupation of Palestine "brinkmanship"? How is calling for Israel to take full responsibility, as the occupying power, for the people it controls under a brutal military occupation "brinkmanship"?
Mr Weiss’s “dangerous scenario” of “a diplomatic vacuum” is a direct result of Ireland and the EU failing to fulfil their obligations under international law and the UN charter. Shamefully, the EU and Ireland (and the US, of course) have also failed to impose any kind of meaningful economic sanctions on Israel. Ireland and the EU must do everything possible to ensure that the Palestinian people attain their full human rights to self-determination, justice and freedom. Without significant external pressure, Israel’s occupation of Palestine will not end, Palestinian refugees will never return home, and we will have been complicit in one of the most terrible injustices the world has ever seen. – Yours, etc,
HILARY MINCH,
Dublin 2.