A disgraceful tradition

In his rancorous survey, Avi Shlaim (“All That Remains”, Jan/ Feb) effectively concludes that Israel may not defend its citizens and should stand by to allow more kidnap, rape and brutal murder. He gives credence to the argument that, if you are genuinely an occupying power, you must by definition be in effective control of the territory and thus be responsible for the welfare of the population.

The premise, however, is false. Israel ceased to be an occupying power when it pulled out of Gaza under Ariel Sharon. Unfortunately, many countries—the UK included—have given credibility to this false premise by caving in to Palestinian political pressure and accepting that Gaza remained occupied even after 2005. By doing so, they have gifted Hamas with an excuse that it has relentlessly exploited in its propaganda: “Gaza is still occupied and the suffering of Palestinians has nothing to do with us”. For example, Moussa Abu Marzouk, a senior member of the terrorist group, has declared that although Hamas rules Gaza it is not responsible for protecting the Strip’s civilians. The vast tunnel network underneath the enclave is, he says, only for the protection of Hamas personnel.

Ultimately, much of the thinking on this issue is just another route to the two key propositions that many feel compelled to affirm: first, that violence (against Jews) has a justification; and second, that the victims ( Jews) are not permitted to defend themselves. From the New Testament in the Middle Ages to the Geneva Conventions nowadays, many holy, legal or philosophical texts have been misread to provide support for these two propositions. Shlaim, albeit an Israeli and an historian, is sadly a victim and a perpetrator of this tradition.

Ruth Deech, House of Lords

Avi Shlaim’s article is a devastating demolition of Israel’s actions and intentions. With a powerful mix of anger and intellect, he exposes the disaster of Netanyahu and the settler ambitions he represents.

The violence of the assault on Gaza is difficult to witness, even from a distance, without despair at the impact on ordinary people and the cities they lived in. If Shlaim’s conclusion about what is needed to resolve the conflict is (consciously) over optimistic, this is not because it is not desirable but because of the magnitude of the change in the mindsets on both sides which would be required for it to work.

Unfortunately, the atrocities carried out by Hamas have massively reduced the likelihood of such a change. Shlaim underplays the impact of 7th October across the entire political spectrum in Israel. Many of those killed in the kibbutzim near the Gaza border were actively committed to partnership with Palestinians and a two-state solution. They were as far from the ideology of settler-colonists as could be. But some Israelis who have spent whole careers working for peace may now find it difficult to contemplate working with the Palestinians. Maybe this is a short-term response to the shock that will pass, but it goes deep.

Prominent activist David Shulman, who continues to work tirelessly with Palestinians to challenge the occupation of the West Bank and is second to none in his condemnation of Netanyahu, insists that “it is important to put an end to the Hamas hold on power” in Gaza. No one, he says, “should make the mistake of thinking… that the Hamas terrorists are some kind of freedom fighters.” Shlaim may be right that in international law there is no right of defence against a territory you occupy, but this sort of legalistic argument hardly meets the violence and depravity meted out by Hamas.

Israel bears a huge responsibility for the current crisis but so, also, does Hamas. True peace is inconceivable under the current Israeli leadership, as it is if Hamas makes the running on the Palestinian side. If there is one possible positive outcome of this horrible mess it might be a loss of credibility on the part of both.

Richard Crockatt, Aylsham

Excellent article. There has been a huge reluctance in the west to write accurate, factual articles which highlight what is really happening. International pressure must be applied to stop the current military operation by Israel, or there will be no habitable [part] of Gaza remaining.

Caroline, via the website