Madam, — How much more evidence do we require that Israel does not seriously want peace with the Palestinians? The attacks on the Gaza Strip in recent days are further testament to its desire to do whatever the hell it likes – regardless of international opinion and of what could be considered rational thinking and action.
The fact that elections are due to take place shortly in Israel adds another grotesque twist to its actions.
Yes, Palestinian militants have fired home-made rockets into Israel and Israel has the right to protect its citizens. But the incredibly disproportionate nature of its response suggests that Israel does not value the lives of Palestinian citizens, and most certainly not on an equal basis with its own.
Seventeen Israeli civilians have been killed in seven years by these home-made rockets. In contrast, over 340 Palestinians have been killed in the past couple of days. Estimates suggest that since its withdrawal from Gaza in 2005, Israel has killed 150 Palestinians in Gaza for every Israeli killed.
Why exactly does Israel not send in its vaunted Mossad to “take out” the rocket-launching terrorists? The answer is simple: it doesn’t wish to risk its own people. It is safer, from an Israeli casualty perspective, to drop bombs from US-made fighter planes thousands of feet in the sky. The resultant high civilian casualty rate doesn’t matter.
Would we allow any other Western state to carry out such barbaric and grotesque action? Israel, it seems, can do as it wishes – all because of events that occurred over 60 years ago in Germany, in which the Palestinians played no part. Yet they have become the indirect victims of the Holocaust, with the oppressed now the playing the part of oppressor. – Yours, etc,
Madam, — The death of non-combatants in the current conflagration, whether Palestinian or Israeli, is deeply depressing. What is even more depressing is that many of the Palestinian non-combatants, including children, are buried wrapped in the green flag of Hamas, the terrorist organisation that has precipitated the latest conflict.
When will the ordinary, decent Palestinian people recognise the folly of nihilistic terrorism and reject those who propose violence and terrorism against Israel as a way forward? The Palestinians need a new leadership that is committed to a just and lasting peace with Israel that will eventually lead to a two-state solution where both Israeli and Palestinian parity of esteem is allowed to flourish. If peace is possible, then it is necessary, because it is the greatest hope of every human heart. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Reading some of the contributions to your Letters page, I cannot help but wonder what planet some writers are on. Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip three-and-a-half years ago, removing all military presence and civilian “settlements”. Palestinian terrorists viewed this action as a sign of weakness and exploited it for their own ends. In the face of escalating provocation, Israel has abided by the ceasefire agreement facilitated by the Egyptians.
Hamas, on the other hand has continued to fire rockets into Israeli towns of Sderot and latterly Ashkelon. Hamas has refused to renegotiate a renewal of the ceasefire in spite of encouragement from Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Palestinian Authority. It has continued to call for the destruction of Israel and its replacement with an Islamic state.
Israel continues to seek out partners for negotiations of a full settlement with the aim of establishing a “two-state solution”. For how long will the Palestinian leadership grasp defeat from the jaws of victory? How long will they live in the shadow of the failed legacy of Arafat? As the Egyptian foreign minister declared last Sunday, they have only themselves to blame.
Israel has conducted this war with impeccable precision. Yes, more than 300 have died, but the overwhelming majority were combatants. I defy any military force to conduct an operation in this type of setting without some civilian casualties, all of which are regretted.
Perhaps all those who are jumping to condemn Israeli actions should pause for a moment and think: why were they not so vocal when Hamas was attacking innocent Israeli civilians over the past few months?
Progress will not be achieved until all sides recognise that both Israelis and Palestinians have legitimate rights to nationhood. Demonising only Israel is not a constructive contribution. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – What is all this “disproportionate” rubbish, when speaking of Israel’s response to continual terrorist aggression? In a war situation, one wins by superior firepower — not by playing for a draw. – Yours, etc,