HOWARD M. GROSS,
Sir, - Your rabid anti-Semitism is showing with the publication of the letter from Laurence Power (April 10th). For you to publish such a letter, which purports to equate Hitler, who tried to wipe put the Jews from the face of the Earth, with Ariel Sharon, who is defending the Jewish state against suicide bombers and other terrorists who are trying to emulate Hitler is indefensible.
You should be ashamed of yourself. - Yours, etc.,
HOWARD M. GROSS,
Jewish Representative
Council of Ireland,
Dublin 14.
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Sir, - "Anti-Israeli sentiment is but a thinly veiled form of anti-Semitism. No doubt, when the current international outrage abates, we shall be treated to that old refrain once again.
I may well be mistaken, but I have long harboured the impression that people of Jewish origin have produced proportionately more champions of liberty and social justice than most other peoples - due perhaps to their own bitter experience of being denied these rights.
Yet Israel's international role has largely been the reverse of this tradition: it is in breach of more United Nations resolutions and international law, such as it exists, than any nation since the foundation of the world body over half-a-century ago.
Its security forces have acted as advisers to military dictatorships in Latin America and elsewhere and Israel was the most unashamed supporter of Apartheid South Africa. Modern South African commentators have been quick to note the parallels between Israel's established policies in the occupied territories and the old Bantustan policy of its former ally.
We are told there are many within Israel who do not subscribe to official Israeli policy. We know there are many prominent Jews outside Israel who oppose it.
Far, from being anti-Semitic, one could as easily argue that to be against Israeli policies is to be for the Jewish tradition! - Yours, etc.,
BILLY FITZPATRICK,
Terenure,
Dublin 6W.