A chara, – I note that Trinity College Dublin is to host a conference on the academic boycott of Israel (News, September 7th). I can only assume that it will be following this with a series of conferences on similar boycotts of China, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Zimbabwe and the other hundred-odd countries whose human rights violations exceed those in Israel. While many of the actions of the Israeli government and its military have ranged from confusing to downright despicable, we must remember that Israel is a democracy, with the rule of law and independence of judiciary and press. Would it not be better to aim the considerable intellectual talent available to the conference at trying to understand how two noble peoples, such as the Palestinians and Israelis, struggle to find a way to live in harmony? – Yours, etc,
JEREMY O’FRIEL,
Manhattan, New York.