Madam, - While Ali Halimeh is likely correct in his contention (March 4th) that the pro-Israel views of the founders of the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) affect the choice of material which they choose to translate and distribute, his inference that this makes their work in some way suspect is not.
Even its bitterest detractors concede that MEMRI produces unimpeachable translations of the Arabic and Farsi press. At root, their problem with organisations such as MEMRI and Palestinian Media Watch is that these inconveniently expose the rank anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist incitement, libels and lies pervading popular and political discourses in the Arab world in general and the Palestinian Authority in particular.
Thanks to MEMRI, Chairman Arafat can no longer get away with speaking with a forked tongue, promising peace in English while promoting jihad in Arabic.
Mr Halimeh's attempt to "shoot the messenger" will not alter this. - Yours, etc.,
SEÁN GANNON, Irish Friends of Israel, Charlotte Quay Dock, Dublin 4.