LAURENCE POWER,
Sir, - David Horowitz (April 24th) likes to have it both ways. He gives a passing scalp to Sharon while supporting and excusing the excesses perpetrated by Sharon's military as he built a solid case of support for Israeli re-occupation and devastation of Palestine. If he wonders why a lot of people are angry at Israel right now he should know that to gain international respectability a state must live by international rules. Israel has earned the world's disgust.
It is not what Mr Horowitz says that is interesting; it is what he omits to say. He doesn't tell us why Israel is the only other country that shares company with Saddam Hussein in ignoring resolutions of the United Nations. He doesn't tell us why Israel continues to ignore the Geneva Convention on the rules of war. He fails to make adequate reference to the role played by former Prime Minister Netanyahu who effectively terminated the Oslo Peace Accord much to the anger of President Clinton.
It would have been nice if Mr Horowitz had addressed the deep-seated anger at the colonization of Palestine by right-wing settlers. He never once addressed why Israeli military and secret service feel they can squash Palestinian citizens like cockroaches whenever it suits them. Mr Horowitz should tell us why a Palestinian farmer has to ask approval from an Israeli soldier on a tank to turn his cattle to water.
All of the woes of the Middle East right now have to do with rights, especially rights of statehood for the people of Palestine. I support the right of the State of Israel to exist, but equally the right of Palestine and its people to have their own state. Until Israel learns this basic fact the Middle East will stay violent. - Yours, etc.,
LAURENCE POWER, Celbridge, Co Kildare.