Sir, – Fintan Lane seems at a loss to understand why the US backing of Israel is “ironclad” (in President Biden’s words) (“Crisis in Gaza and the US backing of Israel”, Letters, July 31st).
The reason is simple. Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East, is fighting for its survival. The stated aim of Hamas is the eradication of Israel and the displacement or worse of its seven million Jews. This position is endorsed by the population of Gaza and the West Bank, according to the latest survey by the Palestinian Centre for Policy Survey and Research. In it, two-thirds believe the October 7th massacre was justified, 50 per cent want armed struggle to continue and only a third want a two-state solution. Support for Hamas continuing to run the Gaza Strip stands at 60 per cent.
Sanctions now by the US and the EU would be a gift to Hamas and would indeed confirm Netanyahu’s claim that “the West” would be acting as “Iran’s useful idiots”. – Is mise,
KENNETH HARPER,
Burtonport,
Co Donegal.