Trump’s capital decision: correct or calamitous?
AMID the clamour to condemn President Trump for wanting to move the united States embassy from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem, thus recognising israel’s claim since 1949 for Jerusalem to be its capital city, no one questions how absurd it is for all of these world embassies to be in Tel-Aviv at all, as it is not israel’s capital.
it would be like insisting on having an embassy in Birmingham instead of london, or in limerick instead of Dublin.
The Palestinian Arabs (as Jews were ‘Palestinian’ too before 1948) claim the Old City of Jerusalem also as their ‘eternal’ capital of a future Palestinian (Arab Muslim) state, as if it was their Divine right, when in fact there never existed an Arab Palestinian capital, never mind an Arab Palestinian state.
The geographical area of Biblical israel, renamed as ‘Palestine’ by the Romans as a slur against the Jews after they forcibly ejected them in AD135, was occupied by various foreign forces, including the Turks for 400 years until 1917, the British until 1947, then Jordan occupied east Jerusalem until 1967, when israel miraculously won a war in six days with multiple Arab armies against them.
None of these governances was Arab Palestinian, but 3,000 years ago records show King David ruling Jerusalem as a Jewish city.
COLIN NEVIN., Formerly chef, Hilton Tel-Aviv,
Bangor, Co. Down. Jerusalem, controversially recognised by Donald Trump as capital of israel, should be made a shared capital for both israel and Palestine.
if this cannot be agreed, then it should be made an international City and the responsibility of the united Nations.
The current capitals of israel and Palestine should remain so until Jerusalem can be shared. PETER ASHCROFT,
Sapley, Cambs. trump’S decision to recognise Jerusalem as israel’s capital is against international law, Un resolutions and the international community. Jerusalem is a Palestinian territory occupied by israel since 1967.
Trump’s decision will have a devastating impact on the peace process as east Jerusalem is meant to become the capital of a future Palestinian state as part of a peace agreement.
it also implies the u.S. can no longer be considered an impartial peace broker.
MOHAMMED SAMAANA, Belfast.
The right to choose
EVERY sovereign nation has the right to choose its capital — and, as such, israel has the right to have Jerusalem as its capital.
Since 1948, israel has fought four wars for its survival and each time defeated the invading armies of its neighbours. Some of the world’s Muslim population would like nothing better than to see israel destroyed, even though israel is seeking a peaceful solution.
The Palestinians were given Gaza as part of a peace settlement, but no sooner had they taken control of that area, they began firing missiles into israel.
israel is a free and democratic country and members of the Knesset are both Jewish and Muslim. if the Palestinians want their own state, and i hope that they will one day achieve this, they must prove that they are willing to allow israel to survive and live in peace.
At which time they will have the right to choose their own capital.
NICHOLAS TASH Harrow, Middlesex.
Rewards of hard work
POLITICIANS say the elderly should downsize their homes so young families can use them.
Are these politicians at all aware of the hardship people went through to get that home? Saving for years for a deposit, depriving themselves of their youth.
Then moving to that home with nothing much, and getting things together a bit at a time, everything bought with care.
Between 1948 and 1980, wages and working conditions were appalling, particularly for those in such working- class jobs as coal miners, foundry workers, fishermen and factory workers.
Often their wages were so low that their wives and eldest children had to work to live, yet about one-fifth of their wages went in tax and national insurance. Those in better jobs paid one-fifth of their wage also, but their wages were much higher, their working conditions and their living conditions much better and they could afford a good education for their children.
The elderly of the ‘ baby boom’ today are likely to be the latter because the majority of the poorer workers are already dead.
TESSA GUMBLEY, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs.
Beggars belief
REFERRING to the photos of Prince Michael and his wife being harassed by beggars in london, many visitors to Palma, Mallorca or las Ramblas in Barcelona will be aware of these tactics by Romanian beggars who frequent both of these popular spots.
A group of women and children crowd around unsuspecting tourists, one will offer ‘a rose for the lady’.
This is a ploy to identify where the target is carrying cash.
The idea is that if they are going to buy the rose, they will either pat the pocket where they carry their cash or the woman will open her bag to reveal her purse.
At this point the beggars will crowd in, jostling the target with the aim of stealing the wallet, purse or bag.
There will be several men or older teens nearby to act as lookouts or intervene if things go wrong. They carry knives and are not afraid to use them.
That this is happening in london is a disgrace.
Where are the police? it is a crime to beg on the streets, and these people should be rounded up and deported.
B. PINNINGTON, Liverpool.
Happy leaver
MY Heart goes out to lily Allen, who, being a champagne socialist, feels badly done by. She must also be saddened by Brexit.
i, on the other hand — being a mild/bitter-drinking Conservative pensioner who emphatically voted leave — am quite happy, and will remain so, unless her lot of loonies ever gains power, of course.
STEPHEN TONG, Pudsey, Leeds.
Making a difference
While i agree it will take years to dispose of all the plastic waste lying around (letters), there is no reason we can’t all make a start on the problem.
We no longer buy milk at shops and have found a milkman who delivers in glass bottles. These are washed, returned and re-used — no plastic involved.
Fruit and veg can be purchased loose. Things such as apples and pears can be rinsed before eating. Supermarkets should only provide paper or cardboard packaging where it is needed.
Getting rid of plastic won’t happen overnight, but eventually we can make a difference. HOWARD STUCKEY, Llandegfan, Anglesey.