Sir, – Nick Davis writes to say he abhors the way Irish people castigate the state of Israel and finds the land of his birth to be deeply anti-Jewish (“Being Irish and Jewish: I love my home, but I am so angry”, Letters, October 19th).
He also asks why real examples of genocide in Nigeria and Sudan don’t receive the same level of attention in Ireland.
The war zone that is Gaza is covered regularly in this country, whereas other war and conflict zones involving mass deaths have not received the same publicity. The placement of Gaza within a wider European context probably explains the greater coverage it receives.
The evidence of what has happened to the people and the physical structure of Gaza is not in dispute, but Davis is disinclined to acknowledge the scale of this tragedy. I consider that Irish people are questioning the tactics of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and the political strategy of the Israeli government.
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There is undoubtedly a range of feelings among Irish people about what is happening in Gaza, but I believe there is consensus that Israel is acting outside the parameters of what a democratic and civil-rights country should stand for. This is not anti-Jewish, but is rather challenging the behaviour of a state that seems intent on the subjugation of a people they appear to regard as lesser human beings. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL RYAN,
Kincora Road,
Dublin 3.
Sir, – Fintan O’Toole is right that principle has a price tag (“Zionism is not racism, any more than Irish nationalism is sectarianism”, Opinion, October 20th). Opposing anti-Semitism while defending Palestinian rights is easy to endorse and hard to practise, because each cause is too readily turned into a weapon against the other.
Criticism of the Israeli government is too often dismissed as anti-Semitism. Equally, some supporters of Palestine excuse or minimise Hamas, whose atrocities against Israeli civilians were indefensible. Neither the reflexive charge nor the reflexive excuse deserves a free pass.
A government is not a people, a religion is not a state and a population is not its rulers. The real test is whether we can condemn the slaughter of Palestinians, the murder of Israeli civilians and the demonisation of Jews without qualification. Human rights cannot depend on whose side we happen to be on. – Yours, etc,
ENDA CULLEN,
Orchard Gate,
Armagh.
