Sir, – As Jewish people, many of whose families fled pogroms and anti-Semitism, and as members of Jews for Palestine-Ireland (formerly Jewish Voice for Just Peace – Ireland), we find it hard to understand how anyone can defend the current Israeli prime minister (Letters, March 24th).
Binyamin Netanyahu is presiding over the most right-wing government in Israel’s history, including a minister who called for the town of Huwara to be wiped out.
This same government has provoked an unprecedented protest movement within Israel, including reservists, which is vociferously demanding democracy.
Yet, in apartheid Israel some are “more equal than others”; this is not democracy, but a thin democratic veneer, a fraud.
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Apart from small pockets of solidarity, the protesters have ignored the implications of this government’s security agenda and deepening of the occupation for indigenous Palestinians. On the issue of democracy for Palestinians, they are silent.
This year so far, three deadly raids have been carried out by the Israeli military in the West Bank.
These preceded the pogrom in Huwara and its neighbouring villages; 86 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli occupation forces or illegal colonial settlers – an average of one person killed every day of 2023, 17 of them children.
This goes hand in hand with an increase in expulsions, house demolitions and a settlement expansion.
Rather than defending the indefensible, Ireland should uphold international law and take meaningful action to sanction Israel for its unceasing attacks on indigenous Palestinians. – Yours, etc,
AHUVIA KAHANE,
SETH LINDER,
JONATHAN SUGARMAN,
SUE PENTEL,
Belfast.