On barring entry to BDSers

In “BDS blacklist punishes thoughtcrime” (Comment & Features, January 11), Michael Markovi compares Israel to the despotic regime of Oceania in George Orwell’s 1984.

The comparison is grossly flawed. Israel does not prevent or in any way discourage its citizens from criticizing their government. Preventing foreign nationals from entering Israel with the purpose of defaming it, delegitimizing it and spreading malicious propaganda about it is another matter.

There is no inherent right that is granted to foreigners to enter a country to disrupt it. This is so even in peacetime. Yet Israel is at war, and has been since 1948.

One of the current aspects of this war is that Israel’s enemies are seeking to delegitimize it after they have tried (unsuccessfully) more than once to destroy it physically. The BDSers want to come here to fight that battle on our soil.

Israel is not punishing foreign BDS advocates for “thoughtcrime” – it is attempting to protect itself from foreign-directed sedition.

LEE SPETNER Jerusalem

Michael Makovi says: “If BDS illiberally advocates embargoes and sanctions – even against academics – then the Israeli government should respond by maintaining the moral high ground.”

I would say that the government is responding properly – and also paradoxically by helping the BDSers maintain the moral high ground. By not allowing them entry to Israel, it is helping them avoid hypocrisy. After all, if they want to boycott Israel, why would they want to come?

JOEL BLOCK Haifa