Sir, – In his defence of Zionism and critique of the song Palestine, Oliver Sears articulates an important point about how quickly criticism of nationalist politics can take on a dangerous racial and bigoted dimension (“I told Christy Moore that a song he performs called Palestine makes me want to leave Ireland”, Opinion & Analysis, August 22nd). We in Ireland should be only too aware of that. Equally we are aware of how nationalist politics itself can evolve into a dangerous form of extremism.
It is interesting that he asserts that in Israel only 7 per cent of the population can be identified as representing the extreme form of Zionism. If it is only 7 per cent then I would have to say that it is very much over-represented in the current administration of Binyamin Netanyahu.
The rhetoric and actions of the Netanyahu administration in Gaza are abhorrent, and I wonder how the 93 per cent of non-extreme Zionists can stand by and say nothing while women and children are murdered in their name.
How can they stay silent when Mr Netanyahu allows the war to be used as a Trojan horse for increased subjugation of the population of the West Bank? Recent reports of torture and sexual abuse of Palestinian prisoners show that this Israeli government has turned a dark corner.
The Hamas organisation is responsible for a heinous and unjustifiable crime in the attacks on October 7th and of course this attack shocked the Israeli population to its core. However, it has also led to the current Israeli administration to blatantly ignore international law, despite its ridiculous claims to the contrary.
The goal of international law when developed in the aftermath of the Holocaust was to protect civilians from the extremes that war brings out. Its objectivity is supposed to go beyond race, religion or nationality. No nation or government representing a group should have a pass, and this includes both Hamas and the Israeli government. If the 93 per cent of non-extreme Zionists also believe this then they need to speak out. – Yours, etc,
BARRY WALSH,
Blackrock,
Cork.