Sir, – It is politically extraordinary and certainly disgraceful that the ambassador of Israel to ireland, Boaz Modai (Letters, April 30th), refers to the government of a neighbouring state as “the squalidly corrupt Palestinian Authority”.
This language clearly reflects the political situation now that Israel has decided to withdraw from the so-called peace talks. Everyone knew that those talks never had any chance of success after Binyamin Netanyahu said at their outset that he agreed with the concept of a two-state arrangement, but only one where the Palestinian state had no controls over its borders, no military, no air space or foreign relations, and where no Palestinian would be allowed to return to the property he once owned.
It is indeed difficult to understand why the Israelis are so arrogant and treat the Palestinians as dirt, keep moving into their territory contrary to international law, and taking over their property which Mr Netanyahu readily admits they once owned.
The Jewish race has made enormous contributions to cultural, scientific and artistic activities in the world since time immemorial despite terrible persecutions, but in Israel, their record of human rights persecution of the Palestinians is simply appalling.
It is a great pity that the Israeli government did not listen to the world-renowned Jewish violinist, Yehudi Menuhin when, on being awarded the Wolf Prize some years ago by the Israeli government, he said in his acceptance speech in the Knesset: “The wasteful governing by fear by this government, by its contempt for the basic needs of life, the steady asphyxiation of a dependent people, should be the very last means to be adopted by those who know only too well the awful significance, the unforgivable suffering of such an existence. It is unworthy of my great people, the Jews, who have striven to abide by a code of moral rectitude for some 500 years.” Yours, etc,
PROF JOHN KELLY,
Chairman,
The Friends of Bethlehem
University in Ireland,
Mount Eden Road,
Dublin 4
Sir, – You have simply got to hand it to Mr Boaz Modai for his sheer brass neck. The right of return of Palestinians to their lands, with which they have direct, family and recent ownership connections, is “absurd”; while the immigration of Jewish people from the remotest corners of the world into Israel and the occupied territories is not only acceptable but actively encouraged.
And where are all these new Jewish immigrants to be accommodated? Why, on the occupied lands from which Palestinians have been removed of course. You may call Mr Netanyahu many things, but stupid isn’t one of them – he could give lessons to Cromwell himself on the subject of land occupation.
Mr Modai refers to certain Arabs within the Israeli state. During our centuries of occupation by our now friendly neighbour, we had in Ireland a category of people known as “Castle Catholics”. Perhaps Mr Modai could ask one of his Irish acquaintances to explain the meaning of the term. Yours, etc,
MAURICE KING,
Dove Cottage,
Ballycocksuist,
Inistioge,
Co. Kilkenny
Sir, – Due to a lack of context Simon Carswell’s report on the breakdown of the Middle East peace talks (“Israeli talks deadline expires with no deal”, April 30th) misses an important point.
In the penultimate paragraph he asserts: “The latest talks stalled after Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu suspended negotiations last week following the pact agreed between the Palestine Liberation Organisation and Hamas, the Islamic militant group with which Israel refuses to negotiate.”
While most of what he says is factually accurate, Mr Carswell omits making any reference to the reason behind Israel’s decision to withdraw from the talks – the Hamas Covenant [aka Hamas Charter] which explicitly calls for the destruction of Israel. Yours, etc,
DAVID M ABRAHAMSON,
Hillcourt Park,
Glenageary,
Co Dublin