Sir, – The response to Kathy Sheridan’s opinion article (September 14th) by Adi Ophir Moaz of the Israeli embassy did have a positive feature (Letters, September 16th). Among her many criticisms, Ms Moaz did not state that the article, about the plight of Palestinians, represents a form of anti-Semitism. Almost as a matter of routine such accusations can be made against those expressing concern about Palestinian wellbeing or human rights. That no such charge was made here could be progress. Even if demonstrably incorrect, charges of racism or bad faith can truncate dialogue or cause its abandonment. This in turn delays hope for the reason and compromise Ms Moaz mentions. It has certainly been a factor in the Israeli-Palestinian issue remaining unresolved since the first United Nations vote on it in 1947.
The precedent of all the world’s conflicts is not a good one and makes a resolution, through dialogue, all the more urgent. – Yours, etc,
DAVID CLINCH,
Dún Laoghaire,
Co Dublin.