Mayhem in the Middle East

We have witnessed the horrors of yet another Israeli bombardment of Palestinians trapped in Gaza with no army, navy or air force, but who resist with some mostly ineffectual rockets.

While Israel President Benjamin Netanyahu and his many apologists, including vociferous locals, claim Israel’s right to self-defence, no such right is accorded Palestinians. As journalist Marwan Bishara has observed, after yet another ceasefire ‘‘Israelis will once again find themselves stuck with millions of Palestinians ever more determined to regain their liberty. Like the dozen colonial states that preceded them, notably the white settler regimes in South Africa and Algeria, the Israelis will sooner or later have to make a choice: to live in peace or leave in humiliation’’. Janfrie Wakim, Auckland Once again, Hamas, a recognised Islamic terrorist group, has provoked Israel into an asymmetric military response through their launching of more than 1000 low-technology missiles from Gaza. The casualty count represents the sophistication of Israel’s war machine and the lack of protection of trapped Palestinians in Gaza. They do not have the private bomb shelters that are ubiquitous in Israel. More than 200 Palestinians have died with about a dozen in Israel.

Israel’s stance is correct. It did not start this latest flare-up but it will end it, hopefully by destroying all physical assets of Hamas.

Where is the United Nations’ response in all of this? The twostate solution is fading away. US President Joe Biden’s actions were ineffectual. Are we just going to see this mayhem die down, only to erupt again in several years?

Lorne Kuehn, Christchurch

Grey and loving it

I am one of those who started going grey early. The first white hairs appeared in my very black hair in about sixth form (‘‘Grey hair? Do you care?’’, Focus, May 16). A classmate also had white hairs appearing.

My father and grandfather, like me, started with black hair but went grey/white at an early age. As I got older the white was predominant and now at 69 the last black hairs (a streak on the back of my head) have gone.

I decided I would not cover up the grey/white at a very early age as I had seen aunts and others try to conceal it, and it never looked good.

My younger son inherited the beautiful black hair, and he too is greying gracefully at 41.

I love my white hair, it is thick, straight, grows quickly and is cut every six weeks. I get more compliments about my hair than anything else.

Sue Milner, Cambridge

Population failure

‘‘Does anyone have a population plan?’’ (Business, May 16) seemed more focused on business and employment rather than the bigger picture. It’s so basic – the more people, the greater demand for resources and the greater effluent, whether it be emissions or pollution.

Almost 50 years ago, a few enlightened environmentalists, such as Save Manapouri conservationist John B Henderson, publicly warned about the folly of ‘‘further proliferating the hordes of humanity’’. He suggested a New Zealand limit of five million, but we have now exceeded that.

New Zealand still has no population policy. Government pursues GDP growth with a maniacal passion. Serious regional imbalances exist, most graphically illustrated by Auckland busting at the seams, demanding more public money for infrastructure and sprawling outwards over fertile soils. Tony Orman, Marlborough

Te reo in the media

In reply to Mark Row (Letters, May 16), I have indeed experienced a fair amount of the richness of life.

I was born in 1937 and together with my two brothers had a hard life for five years when our father served New Zealand at O¯ hakea during World War II. We saw him only one weekend a month, so how our mother managed was amazing.

When I was at school there were 32 kids in our class and only two Ma¯ ori boys, who were placed in the back row and not allowed to speak te reo or take much interest in schooling. Now Ma¯ ori kids are right up there in all schools and universities and making New Zealand a great country to live in.

Ma¯ ori can learn their language if they wish, but television and radio push these words, and a lot of viewers don’t wish to hear them.

Arthur Bott, Hastings

Profit in health

Nobody could argue with Sarah Dalton’s suggestion of a greater investment in social spending as a way of retaining and boosting our health and social care workforce (Opinion, May 16).

How to stop that public health funding leeching out to the private health sector is not so straightforward. Competition from the private sector for medical specialists is a significant and growing drain on an already stretched public system compounded by the need to contract-out work to a private sector that continues to expand its services for the ‘‘wealthy well’’.

Without remedy we are in danger of ending up with an

American system where the profit motive is paramount and valiant attempts to address the imbalance, like Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders’ proposed nationalisation of the insurance industry, are crushed under the weight of corporate rapacity.

Susan Hall, Oamaru

Cut income tax

An interesting article about the possible brain drain to Australia as they boost their economy (News, May 16).

In my opinion, the best way for our Government to keep people here is to have nil income tax on the first $50,000. People on minimum wage should not pay any income tax as they pay enough in GST and levies. Also, they have not been compensated for the introduction of GST nor either of the increases.

Most of the money will be spent, employment will rise, and the Government’s unemployment benefits bill will be lower.

The Government will retain most of the tax income as most of this will be spent.

Everybody wins (except Australia).

Brian Taylor, Auckland