RAYMOND DEANE,
Sir, - Imagine the following scenario: a rape victim is locked away and told that she may be allowed limited freedom if there is "a certain improvement" in her conduct, and if she promises to "reform" many aspects of her life. Meanwhile her assailant is given carte blanche to enter her cell and rape her at will; in certain quarters he is even hailed as an exemplary citizen.
In the wake of Israel's latest slaughter of an entire family in Rafah, the Israeli cabinet minister Dani Naveh claims that "a certain improvement in the conduct of the Palestinians in the last few days" is insufficient to merit troop withdrawals from territories that Israel has illegally and savagely occupied for the past 35 years. Meanwhile, EU ministers meet in Elsinore to discuss a plan for a Palestinian state by 2005, if "the Palestinians would explicitly recognise the state of Israel" (which they have done repeatedly over the last 14 years) and "reform their own institutions". There is no mention of Israeli reform, or of ending the illegal occupation.
This appeasement of the rapist and vilification of the victim is no longer acceptable (it never was!). The only recipe for peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike is an end to the occupation. - Yours, etc.,
RAYMOND DEANE,
Ireland Palestine
Solidarity Campaign,
Dame Street,
Dublin 2.