Madam, - Nowhere in his article "Segregation wall strangles the life out of Bethlehem" does John Kelly explain why the security fence is there (Opinion, June 24th). Like the dupes in the earlier part of the 20th century who thought the USSR was heaven on earth, Kelly paints an idyllic picture of the Palestinian people as peace-loving innocents. Did he take the time to read the hate-filled, anti-Jew brainwashing within Palestinian schoolbooks, ask indoctrinated four-year-olds what they think of Jews, watch PA television, or listen to the emanations from mosques? Peaceful, indeed?
Is he aware that, in the second intifada, 17 per cent of Palestinian deaths were civilian, whereas civilians comprised 70 per cent of Israeli deaths? Equally, what about the 100-or-so Kassam rockets fired at Sderot and Askelon in a little over a month from post-"occupation" Gaza? If leaving the Palestinians to themselves - ie without IDF patrols making life difficult to set up launch sites and organise suicide bombings - is anything to go by, the Gaza disengagement shows what happens to Israeli security when the IDF leave terrorists be.
Polls have consistently shown that the clear majority of Palestinians are neither prepared to co-exist in a two-state solution, nor recognise the right of a Jewish state to exist in that land at all. And is Prof Kelly really trying to compare the inconveniences that Palestinian farmers endure to the deaths of Israelis in bombings? What are the Israelis to do: meander the wall around every last one-family farm? The intent of the terrorists, and the mutual support of many of the Palestinians, and the refusal of both Hamas terrorists and the so-called "moderate" Abbas to smash the terrorist cells is indicative of what really goes on in Gaza, Samaria and Judea.
Prof Kelly is suspiciously quiet about Israel's three simple demands on Hamas: recognition of Israel's right to exist; cessation of attacks; and recognition of previous agreements. Israel has agreed to Palestinian statehood on several occasions, but the moral bankruptcy of people such as Prof Kelly is shown when he demands nothing of the Palestinians. - Yours, etc,
JOHN LALOR, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
Madam, - It was difficult to read John Kelly's article without being moved by feelings of pity, rage and despair at the treatment being meted out to the practically defenceless people of Palestine - in their own land.
Though priding itself on its "freedom" of expression, the Western media has for too long been more than a little coy in its depiction of this brutal and illegal occupation of Palestine, now in its 39th year.
Perhaps, however, your publication of articles and eye-witness accounts - such as that provided by Prof Kelly - goes some little way towards rectifying the situation and giving one grounds for hope in the future. - Yours, etc,
BILLY FITZPATRICK, Terenure, Dublin 6W.