British democracy is sick when an MP is threatened for pro-israel views

SIR – How sad that a conscientious, hard-working MP (and competent junior minister) like Mike Freer has been forced out by the mob (“Proisraeli Tory minister to quit after death threats”, report, February 1).

Mr Freer has been a steadfast friend of the Jewish community and of Israel ever since he was first elected as MP for Finchley and Golders Green in 2010. He will be missed.

Brian Gedalla

London N3

SIR – What sort of a country have we become when we cannot or will not give effective protection to a Member of Parliament who has been intimidated because of his support for Israel?

MPS are the cornerstone of our democracy. Our failure to confront those who would like to undermine our way of life is simply emboldening them.

Windsor, Berkshire

SIR – Mike Freer is to resign, having been left fearing for his life after repeated threats from Islamic extremists.

At weekends the Mayor of London permits hate marches against Jewish people in the capital. The Muslim Brotherhood and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are still not proscribed groups, meaning that they are able to operate legally on British soil.

These are just a few outrageous instances of Islamic extremists being let off, despite posing a threat to Britain’s national security. Our leaders must take a tougher stance.

Jonathan Daniel

London NW4

SIR – John Walker’s letter (January 31) is wide of the mark.

No one who criticises – even harshly – the current Israeli government’s war tactics is, on that basis alone, labelled an anti-semite. That would be ludicrous and, by and large, it simply doesn’t happen.

People are, however, correctly called out on their anti-semitism when they make grotesque comparisons between Israel and Nazi Germany; when they accuse Israel – a state that they reject in its entirety – of deliberately instigating a genocide; or when they focus their ire unrelentingly on Israel’s choices, while saying nothing about the actions of – for instance – Russia, China, Syria, North Korea or Iran.

Sebastian Monblat

Surbiton, Surrey

SIR – On Monday, Hamas launched further rocket strikes against targets in Israel.

Israel is right not to agree to a ceasefire because, unlike many of our politicians, it is not naive enough to believe that Hamas will abide by any agreement.

Philip Roberts

Tarporley, Cheshire