No peace in any country that robs people of its land

IT SEEMS that Brian Joss and Eleanor Barber are both die-hard fans of Israel (Cape Argus, January 28-29).

As a Muslim, I did not preach human rights but simply provided a reason why South Africa refused Israel’s generous offer of desalination assistance.

To Eleanor, churches are not absent from Muslim countries: there are at least 600 churches in Iran, 19 in Bahrain and a number in Kuwait, Syria, Yemen and Pakistan. Brian, for proof of Israeli’s human rights abuse, how can we forget US activist Rachel Corrie, run over by a military bulldozer while trying to prevent the demolition of a Palestinian home in Rafah refugee camp.

Brian and Eleanor’s arguments are reminiscent of Hendrik Verwoerd’s, who vehemently denied apartheid was violating human rights.

Any country that robs people of its land and then occupies it will never experience peace, as witnessed in Israel. It is sad that a nation that was almost wiped off the face of the earth by Hitler would itself inflict inhumane treatment upon others. Have the Jews not learnt how precious life is after millions of their kin were killed in gas chambers?

Eleanor, will you acknowledge someone who illegally grabs your home as the rightful homeowner? Will such an act not provoke you? Fighting for one’s freedom has its casualties. Unfortunately, often innocent people die as witnessed at the St James church massacre at the height of the fight against apartheid.

I do not condone suicide bombings but these illustrate extreme actions taken by dispossessed people to reclaim their rightful land. ADIEL ISMAIL Mount View