Madam, - It never fails to amaze me that so many people see red at the mere mention of Israel's democratic right to peaceful co-existence with its neighbours. In his letter of September 13th, Charles Spillane complains of Israeli abuses but, of course, omits any reference to the almost daily incursions into Israel by Palestinian terrorists.
These groups, including Hamas, proclaim they will not rest until they annihilate the entire Jewish population. And, as is obvious from the wild celebrations every time a busload of innocent civilians is blown to pieces, there is massive support amongst the general Palestinian population for their terrorist "heroes."
Internationally agreed procedures for a peaceful settlement have been ignored by militants who continue to murder and maim as many men, women and children as they can target.
Should the Israeli military simply lie down in the face of this onslaught and ignore the plight of its people?
As the only true democracy in the Middle East, Israel has managed to keep the wild extremes of Islamism in its place, and in so doing, made the countries of Europe more secure. - Yours, etc,
NIALL GINTY, The Demesne, Killester, Dublin 5.