Cry of despair over Gaza war
Madam - I despair. I despair at the absence of courage among our World leaders. I despair reading the accounts by Norwegian Dr. Mads Gilbertof, who is battling to save innocent civilians in Gaza’s crumbling hospital. I despair looking at the countless pictures of lifeless children. They could be my children. I despair seeing the destruction of a people, by machines paid for by a great nation, one that values liberty and equality.
How can the Western World champion universal human rights and the rule of law while standing by watching the brutal deaths of civilians in Palestine? That I voice this opinion does not make me anti-Semitic. I do not condone the actions of Hamas. Róisín Lawless, Áth Buí, Contae na Mí
The hypocrisy of calls for boycott
Madam - I am becoming more and more annoyed, frustrated and saddened by the daily clamour for boycotts of Israeli goods by every little organisation, disaffected person and trade union as a result of the war in Gaza.
I am not an apologist for Israel but the stench of hypocrisy from all the “anti-Israeli” voices in becoming rank and pitiful.
A friend just posted on Facebook that he is proud to be working for SuperValu/ Musgraves as they had announced a boycott of Israeli goods, but he and Musgraves are not calling for a boycott of Syrian, Iranian or ISIS area goods and they are killing far more innocent people and kids in those areas than in Gaza.
There are as many reasons for what is happening in Gaza as there are proponents for each side. Israelis (Jews) grabbed the land after the Second World War (after being nearly exterminated in Europe), but not all of it Palestine — Palestine used also contain parts of what is now Egypt, Jordan and Syria, but nobody is calling for those areas to be returned.
The Israelis have maintained a blockade of Gaza for the last few years, to reduce the amount of weaponry reaching Hamas, who have sworn to annihilate each and every Jew — kids too.
I for one won’t be bullied by the loudest screamer demanding a boycott but I will be boycotting any retail outlet who announces their own boycott of Israeli goods and denying me my rightful choice — and that starts today with SuperValu. Robert Daly, Cork
Condemnation from here is easy
Madam - The Palestinian people are oppressed.No right thinking person can think otherwise. However they are as much if not more oppressed by Hamas as Israel.
Like so many peoples and nations their rulers are to blame for so much of their troubles. Like it or not, Israel was created as a state by the United Nations in 1948. Within hours it was invaded by all its neighbouring Arab countries with one intent — to wipe it off the map.
Israel is the only truly democratic country in the Middle East that gives all its citizens protected equal rights under its basic laws whether they be Jew, Muslim, Christian or Dissenter. It must be protected.
As time moves on people naturally tend to forget the horrendous murderous suffering the Jewish people endured as a race all through history. That hatred and murderous intent is still with us. Its easy from a distance to condemn Israel.
Thankfully Israel has a defence system that can and has destroyed most of the thousands of rockets that have been fired indiscriminately into Israel with one aim — to kill as many Israei citzens as possible. John Naylor Dublin 12
Do not fight in the name of God
Madam - We watched Simon Scharma on Charles I last evening and then we watched the news. Israelis, Muslims, all fighting in the name of God.
Oh, merciful God, save us from those who think they are inspired. Cal Hyland, West Cork