Can Israelis try to walk a mile in Palestinian shoes?

Report slams Israeli government, Feb. 1

I congratulate Shree Paradkar for her courage in describing Amnesty International’s report on Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. As she notes, Israel often claims its procedures are necessary for security. Yet the report describes many policies and practices that make lives very difficult for Palestinians and do nothing to protect Israelis.

Israeli officials have already criticized the report, claiming, with no evidence, that it is antisemitic. I fully expect lobby groups such as the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs to do the same.

Is it too much to hope that, for once, they will put themselves in the place of Palestinians?

They could, for example, read the columns of Israeli journalists Gideon Levy and Amira Hass to begin to understand life on the ground.

Maybe, then, they will, like Parad- kar, show some courage and speak truth to power.

They should urge the Israeli government to obey Jewish religious law, and stop the collective punishment of Palestinians and pursue justice.

Harry Shannon, Dundas