Sir, - Raymond Deane (December 6th) accuses the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, of hypocrisy in declaring the Palestinian Authority a "terrorist entity".
True, in 1982 General Sharon was convicted by the Kahan Commission of "indirect responsibility" for the massacre of Palestinians at the hands of the Christian Phalangists in Sabra and Shatila. The current investigation in Belgium, however, is as legitimate a judicial procedure as the UN-sponsored Conference against Racism in Durban was a genuine forum against prejudice: it is nothing more than an extension of the current Arab hate fest directed against Israel - thinly veiled anti-Semitism.
As for the other points Mr Deane raises, Israel conquered the West Bank and Gaza Strip in the Six Day War of 1967, a battle for its very existence forced upon it by its Arab neighbours, and a humiliating defeat for the Arabs. Israel occupied Southern Lebanon as a strategic buffer zone for its 26,000 northern residents living under constant threat of Hezbollah terrorist raids and Katyusha rocket attacks.
Israel has authorised moderate physical pressure to be used on Palestinian "ticking bombs" - terrorist suspects whose successful interrogation will lead directly to the foiling of deadly suicide attacks (dozens of attacks are thwarted for each one that, tragically, succeeds). As regards legalised assassinations, Israel has no other means of eradicating terrorists who operate deep inside in Area A territories, under full Palestinian control. These are not so-called "political activists" or "resistance fighters", but murderers of Israeli woman and children. In cases where terrorists can be captured alive without risking the lives of the Israeli security forces involved, this is done.
Israel is in breach of more UN resolutions than any other country on earth because no other country has been singled out and attacked by the UN as Israel has. The UN is a body which contends the country's very right to exist, and is largely composed of autocratic Arab and developing countries with horrific human rights records and no place in the civilised world.
Where, pray tell, are the resolutions against one of the world's most brutal and corrupt regimes, Yasser Arafat's own Palestinian Authority; against the murderous actions of Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah; against the terrorist-sponsoring thugocracies of Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iran, Kuwait and the UAE?
The Arabs must recognise Israel's right to exist; the West must recognise Israel's right to self-defence and the central role played by Yasser Arafat in Middle East terrorism. Israel deserves the support of the civilised world in its efforts to uproot and destroy the fundamentalist terror in its own backyard. - Yours, etc.,
Guy Gordon, (formerly of Rathmines, Dublin 6), Jerusalem, Israel.