Following my article in the Canberra Times this week outlining the harsh realities in the West Bank and Gaza, this letter is published in the paper today:
Antony Loewenstein (”Drop rose-coloured views to lift Gaza peace hopes”, September 9, p11) claims that Hamas is boycotted because Israel and the West refuse to accept its election.
This is simply untrue.
Hamas is boycotted because it refuses to agree to the three simple demands from the US, UN, Russia and the EU that it renounce violence, recognise Israel’s right to exist and accept existing agreements.
Gaza is partially blockaded not because the wrong party was elected, but because of the terrorism it has carried out since its election.
Loewenstein claims that Hamas is willing to negotiate, but if that was true, it would accept the three preconditions.
If Israel’s attack on Hamas ”emboldened” it, as Loewenstein claims, why is it that only now have the rockets and other attacks practically stopped?
Loewenstein’s allegations about Israel’s general nature are similarly flawed.
All of Israel’s Arab citizens have absolutely equal rights, while West Bank and Gaza Palestinians are restrained only to the extent required by the security problems they have caused.
Yosi Tal,
Leichhardt, NSW
Given that Israel refuses to renounce violence, recognise Palestine’s right to exist and accept existing agreements, by exactly the same ‘logic’ as the cretinous Yosi Tal, Israel demands to be boycotted.
And by the way, Yosi, Hamas has recognised Israel’s right to exist, at the green line that is; it also honoured the Gaza ceasefire.
”All of Israel’s Arab citizens have absolutely equal rights, while West Bank and Gaza Palestinians are restrained only to the extent required by the security problems they have caused.’
And the earth is flat Yosi.
the bubble is powerful. all hail the bubble.
Who are these Australian jews who justify any crime by Israel by claiming Israel are the victims?
Hamas was started by Israel to counter Fatah, now Hamas are the bad guys and Fatah the compliant and corrupt criminals collaborating with Israel and her crimes.
Firstly, Yosi, the U.N have a solution regarding peace between Israel and Palestine. Hamas have agreed to the 2-stage plan outlined by the U.N. It is Israel backed by the United States that have not agreed. Besides, most facts point towards Israel show-boating prospects of peace in the region, only to break cease-fire agreements when Hamas appears ready to talk.
It is the Terrorism of an incarcerated and sanctioned Palestine to launch such a “vicious” peace offensive agreeing to the solution.
It is the Terrorism of Israel to butcher thousands of civilian Palestinians in response.
Secondly, history has shown nothing is more threatening to Israel than Arab unity in the region, traditionally politics in Israel see it lowering their “deterence capacity.” Which is Israels ability to instill fear in the Palestinian people, so that terrorism is less likely to occur. Which if you look it up, is the meaning of terrorism, but i guess you mean Arab or Muslim terrorism.
In the case of the legality of Israels settlements and occupation, you know and i know that Israel is in violation of international law. i suspect that this principle fact is what you seek to hide when you respond with the intelligence of an 8 year old.
The game is up, within the next few years, generations of youth who will not put up with the lies coming from Israel are destined to change the world stage. It is such a shame for Israels sake that influence and power mean so much to them all that morality has taken a back seat.
Signing off….