YOUR VIEWS

YOU have to give Israel the cake for being able to sell it’s largely concocted reason why it has to attack a largely defensive people.

And yet each time the “big” bully cries foul the world takes its side irrespective.

While the “little” bully is not only pummelled to an inch of its existence it refuses to listen to its reason for what and why it has been carried out on them. Because they have heard it time and time again.

For those who aren’t already biased when it comes to the Middle East, if they are able to get a copy of John Lyons’ balanced ‘Balcony over Jerusalem’ it might just open their eyes.

Because it is about time the Palestinians were given a balanced fair go for a change.

DJ FRASER, CURRUMBIN

PART of Crown’s agreement to gain a gambling licence in NSW is to cease accepting cash from gamblers, and forcing players to use card technology showing their identity from a recognised financial institution.

However, Star casinos have stupidly agreed to move to that cashless model even though not forced to do so. This move is obviously a breach of privacy, and makes one’s movements even more traceable. There are many gamblers who, for quite valid reasons not connected to money laundering, simply do not want anyone else to know their business. But Star is voluntarily offering to make our lives an even more open book for ‘big brother’.

This move will give the tax department even more information about us, financial institutions will have more scrutiny of a borrower’s financial transactions, and welfare recipients won’t be able to hide any wins.

The move follows the recent tightening of cash payments at Coles and Woolworths where the number of self-serve registers accepting cash have been slashed, with rumoured plans for their complete removal.

Many people, particularly the elderly, do not use or want cards. These people are being discriminated against.

And as a Star shareholder, I object to the plan to cease accepting cash, and I am sure it will adversely affect their income.

IAN TIMMINS, MERMAID BEACH

IT IS time now more than ever to call out one of the biggest injustices the world sees today.

The Palestinian people have been subjected to inhumane actions by the Israeli settlers for over five decades now. The most recent atrocities highlight that Israel does not want a solution and will do anything in its power to humiliate and destroy the Palestinian people, their homes, and take over their land, even the ones who legally reside in “Israel”.

The argument of “self-defence” for Israel shows how unjust and out of touch our politicians and media have become. Self-defence does not mean the taking of innocent lives or the destruction of buildings that house innocent people.

The people of Palestine need us to unite and call out this injustice.

They do not have the backing of an arms deal ($3.8bn/year) from the USA, they do not have an army, they do not have a navy.

The IDF is fighting with people who cannot defend themselves or have the means to do so.

I plead with the Australian government to do more to protect the rights of innocent Palestinians.

I can only imagine what the uproar would be if the roles were reversed.

MONUS SHAIKH, MORNINGTON