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| Israel/Palestine – less tit for tat, more quid pro quo | Israel/Palestine – less tit for tat, more quid pro quo |
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| I would be more persuaded by the angry voice of Hamas (We will not die in silence, 19 November) if Musa Abumarzuq had had the guts to remind the reader of article 15 of the Hamas charter. Preaching jihad, it says this: "When our enemies usurp some Islamic lands, jihad becomes a duty binding on all Muslims. In order to face the usurpation of Palestine by the Jews, we have no escape from raising the banner of jihad … We must spread the spirit of jihad among the Ummah, clash with the enemies and join the ranks of the jihad fighters." And so on. If the charter could be rewritten for the purpose of achieving peaceful coexistence then that would be a huge step forward in legitimising Hamas as a government to listen to. | I would be more persuaded by the angry voice of Hamas (We will not die in silence, 19 November) if Musa Abumarzuq had had the guts to remind the reader of article 15 of the Hamas charter. Preaching jihad, it says this: "When our enemies usurp some Islamic lands, jihad becomes a duty binding on all Muslims. In order to face the usurpation of Palestine by the Jews, we have no escape from raising the banner of jihad … We must spread the spirit of jihad among the Ummah, clash with the enemies and join the ranks of the jihad fighters." And so on. If the charter could be rewritten for the purpose of achieving peaceful coexistence then that would be a huge step forward in legitimising Hamas as a government to listen to. |
| As for Israel, it could make a start, in turn, by repealing the budget foundations law that cuts funding to any institution commemorating the Nakba, and restrictions on mentioning it in school textbooks; and recognising that for Palestinians the Nakba sits alongside the Holocaust as a terrifying memorial of inhumanity with generational legacies of trauma, loss and injustice. The fallow lands law that enables the state to acquire seemingly uncultivated land also negates the much-polished image of Israeli democracy. And it may be an essential element in negotiations for an apology to be given for the dispossessions of 1947/48 and the destroyed villages. Right now, that may be a bridge too far, yet for the future it is one to be crossed. Michael Baron Cockermouth, Cumbria | As for Israel, it could make a start, in turn, by repealing the budget foundations law that cuts funding to any institution commemorating the Nakba, and restrictions on mentioning it in school textbooks; and recognising that for Palestinians the Nakba sits alongside the Holocaust as a terrifying memorial of inhumanity with generational legacies of trauma, loss and injustice. The fallow lands law that enables the state to acquire seemingly uncultivated land also negates the much-polished image of Israeli democracy. And it may be an essential element in negotiations for an apology to be given for the dispossessions of 1947/48 and the destroyed villages. Right now, that may be a bridge too far, yet for the future it is one to be crossed. Michael Baron Cockermouth, Cumbria |
| • If Barack Obama recognises an Israeli right of self-defence against rocket attacks, does he also acknowledge a Palestinian right of self-defence against expropriation of land and water supplies, the illegal establishment of settlements in the occupied territories, the obstruction of Palestinian circulation and the imposition of a blockade on Gaza? Instead of pretending to adjudicate on a tit-for-tat cycle of violence and revenge, should not Obama and his international acolytes be promoting a quid-pro-quo cycle of concession? For a start, might not Palestinian recognition of "Israel's right to exist" (despite its creation at the expense of the Palestinians and without their consent) reasonably be balanced by an Israeli disavowal of any ambition for "Greater Israel", and a consequent abandonment of policies and developments that are directed towards it? Karola Regent (Kindertransport refugee, 1939) and Peter Regent Newport-on-Tay | • If Barack Obama recognises an Israeli right of self-defence against rocket attacks, does he also acknowledge a Palestinian right of self-defence against expropriation of land and water supplies, the illegal establishment of settlements in the occupied territories, the obstruction of Palestinian circulation and the imposition of a blockade on Gaza? Instead of pretending to adjudicate on a tit-for-tat cycle of violence and revenge, should not Obama and his international acolytes be promoting a quid-pro-quo cycle of concession? For a start, might not Palestinian recognition of "Israel's right to exist" (despite its creation at the expense of the Palestinians and without their consent) reasonably be balanced by an Israeli disavowal of any ambition for "Greater Israel", and a consequent abandonment of policies and developments that are directed towards it? Karola Regent (Kindertransport refugee, 1939) and Peter Regent Newport-on-Tay |
| • The latest round of the violence in Gaza and southern Israel again shows how much Israel is dependent on diplomatic cover from the US for its actions. This dependency has made Israel weaker, as it has meant that successive Israeli governments have failed to plan for a future where this diplomatic, financial and military support cannot be taken for granted. | • The latest round of the violence in Gaza and southern Israel again shows how much Israel is dependent on diplomatic cover from the US for its actions. This dependency has made Israel weaker, as it has meant that successive Israeli governments have failed to plan for a future where this diplomatic, financial and military support cannot be taken for granted. |
| It will soon become obvious to many in the US political class (if it hasn't already) that support for Israel is costing them influence around the world and is no longer a vote winner at home. When this happens, Israel will be forced to realise how short-sighted its strategic reliance on force for its security and not working for an equitable solution with its neighbours has been. | It will soon become obvious to many in the US political class (if it hasn't already) that support for Israel is costing them influence around the world and is no longer a vote winner at home. When this happens, Israel will be forced to realise how short-sighted its strategic reliance on force for its security and not working for an equitable solution with its neighbours has been. |
| How Israel adjusts to the new reality will be crucial to its continual existence. As a supporter of Israel (although not its successive governments) I hope that it is not already too late to reach out a hand of co-operation to the Palestinians. A programme of withdrawal from occupied territory and help with economic development for areas blighted by years of conflict would provide a more secure future for Israel than the current attempts to do so by bombing Gaza into submission. Leon Duveen Worksop, Nottinghamshire | How Israel adjusts to the new reality will be crucial to its continual existence. As a supporter of Israel (although not its successive governments) I hope that it is not already too late to reach out a hand of co-operation to the Palestinians. A programme of withdrawal from occupied territory and help with economic development for areas blighted by years of conflict would provide a more secure future for Israel than the current attempts to do so by bombing Gaza into submission. Leon Duveen Worksop, Nottinghamshire |
| • The use of inaccurate rockets by the Palestinians is condemned by some correspondents (Letters, 19 November) as a war crime as opposed to the precisely targeted munitions used by the Israelis. Do I take this to mean that air strikes with laser-guided bombs on the homes of Israeli politicians and generals would be a preferable strategy and would not be described as terrorism? Perhaps the west should supply the Palestinians with planes and precision munitions so that they can end their acts of terrorism and murder the enemy leaders and their families in a way that Israel finds acceptable. Ted Truscoe Horley, Surrey | • The use of inaccurate rockets by the Palestinians is condemned by some correspondents (Letters, 19 November) as a war crime as opposed to the precisely targeted munitions used by the Israelis. Do I take this to mean that air strikes with laser-guided bombs on the homes of Israeli politicians and generals would be a preferable strategy and would not be described as terrorism? Perhaps the west should supply the Palestinians with planes and precision munitions so that they can end their acts of terrorism and murder the enemy leaders and their families in a way that Israel finds acceptable. Ted Truscoe Horley, Surrey |
| • Musa Abumarzuq wrote: "The western position has given political cover to the Israeli aggression…" But is Hamas doing the same? What are they hoping to achieve with rockets fired on Israel? The use of rockets of significantly greater range, supplied from outside Gaza, raises issues that Israel and the west will be happy to use: where are the rockets coming from, how must the suppliers be dealt with, how did they get into Gaza, plus the reality that, though nothing compared to Israel's weapons, they still kill people. All these issues provide more smokescreens when what needs to be transparent are the appalling conditions in Palestine. Andrew Papworth London | • Musa Abumarzuq wrote: "The western position has given political cover to the Israeli aggression…" But is Hamas doing the same? What are they hoping to achieve with rockets fired on Israel? The use of rockets of significantly greater range, supplied from outside Gaza, raises issues that Israel and the west will be happy to use: where are the rockets coming from, how must the suppliers be dealt with, how did they get into Gaza, plus the reality that, though nothing compared to Israel's weapons, they still kill people. All these issues provide more smokescreens when what needs to be transparent are the appalling conditions in Palestine. Andrew Papworth London |
| • Hamas' rockets should stop – yes. But it's hard to fathom how the Israeli government, containing people who think that Israel's frontier should be the Jordan, thinks that its constant encroachment on the West Bank including Jerusalem, is going to result in peace. Pull back from flying jets over Gaza at low altitude, allow Gaza to import concrete, to sell its fruit and vegetables, and make it clear that for every rocket fired after a certain date, all this will be rescinded for one day per rocket (or whatever seems sensible). Carrot and stick. And stopping expanding settlements might be a good idea. Michael Dommett Alton, Hampshire | • Hamas' rockets should stop – yes. But it's hard to fathom how the Israeli government, containing people who think that Israel's frontier should be the Jordan, thinks that its constant encroachment on the West Bank including Jerusalem, is going to result in peace. Pull back from flying jets over Gaza at low altitude, allow Gaza to import concrete, to sell its fruit and vegetables, and make it clear that for every rocket fired after a certain date, all this will be rescinded for one day per rocket (or whatever seems sensible). Carrot and stick. And stopping expanding settlements might be a good idea. Michael Dommett Alton, Hampshire |
| • Do the Palestinians have a right to resist military occupation, imprisonment without trial, theft of resources and abrogation of their human rights by whatever means they have, or is that right only accorded to people of western origin? Abdul Hamed Newcastle upon Tyne | • Do the Palestinians have a right to resist military occupation, imprisonment without trial, theft of resources and abrogation of their human rights by whatever means they have, or is that right only accorded to people of western origin? Abdul Hamed Newcastle upon Tyne |
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