I WOULD like to congratulate Steph Paton on their wonderful, truthful article in Monday’s National about the genocide that is still taking place in Gaza (Israel’s destruction of Gaza isn’t a ‘war’, Jan 22).
Too many people and, dare I say it, governments are frightened to criticise the state of Israel in case they are accused of being antisemitic.
Since 1948 the state of Israel has been trying to rid Gaza of all Palestinians. It has encouraged Israeli settlers to destroy the houses of peaceful Palestinians and steal their lands without any criticism from many governments, including the UK Government.
READ MORE: Diaries from Gaza: 'Must we feed a child dying of hunger mouldy bread?'
We all have seen TV news footage of Palestinian youths protesting against the Israeli actions by throwing stones, only to be met with live fire from the Israeli army in return, killing many protesters.
What Hamas did in attacking, killing and taking hostage of a number of Israelis was terrible. However, the continuing Israeli attack on peaceful Palestinians, mainly women and children, resulting in well over 20,000 deaths, is a crime against humanity. Both the UK and US governments are complicit in this genocide by voting against a UN resolution to end the hostilities. Also, the US and UK governments continue to supply the so-called Israel Defence Forces with an abundance of modern killing weapons.
As I said, at the start of this letter, it has always been the aim of the Israeli Government to rid Gaza of the Palestinian people, no matter how many innocent men, women and children are massacred.
The UK Government doesn’t do it in my name.
Robert Cumberland
Blantyre
I RECENTLY viewed a clip of the late Israeli General Matti Peled, speaking at a 1992 conference in San Francisco. A member of the IDF’s general staff during the 1967 Six Day War, Peled’s words are prescient and provide context for what is happening in Gaza.
He said, “Anyone who says ‘occupation corrupts’ was absolutely right and we [Israeli Jews] have been occupying the West Bank and Gaza Strip for the past 25 years; this is corrupting us.”
Aid, he said, “is one of the most damaging ‘gifts’ that we get from the US … I always felt aid to Israel is a plague. I think we should pay for our arms out of our own money.”
READ MORE: Journalist dismantles Sky News question about Houthi bombing
US aid in 1992 was $1.8 billion a year and is now $3.8 billion (not including the $14.5 billion in November), and was, Peled believed, not only far beyond Israel’s needs but was hurting Israeli society. Israel used the money not just for arms but to establish more settlements in the occupied territories, a violation of the Geneva Conventions. Today there are more than 700,000 Israelis in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in settlements the UN Security Council has declared illegal.
Peled understood that the Palestinians, deprived of their land and dignity, would resent and resist the Israeli occupation. He said, “What else did you expect?” “This [oppression of the Palestinians] doesn’t help the Jews. Jews cannot expect to live comfortable and pleasant lives [in the midst of so much Palestinian suffering].”
He believed the only chance for peace was to hand over negotiations to the UN, because without UN involvement, there was no solution to the conflict. But the US opposed this. And here we are, in a more dangerous world than would exist had the US heeded Peled’s warning.
Leah Gunn Barrett
Edinburgh
I ENJOY reading the letters page in The National every day, because there is usually a fairly high level of debate and expression of views. I find, from time to time, views that I do not agree with, but the level of debate is normally very high.
I always feel that when the writer has to resort to personal insults it usually means he, or she, feels unable to address the issues, and this always lowers the tone of the debate. In his letter on Monday James Duncan implies that Leah Gunn Barrett is a “useful idiot” being used by Russian agents of some kind.
This terrible war has been very costly to the Ukrainian and Russian people, and the best thing that could happen for the people in both countries is that it should stop. There was a peace deal on the table which both the Ukraine and Russia were prepared to sign when Boris Johnson, backed by the US, urged Ukraine not to sign it. Why, James, did he do that? Who is keen on keeping this war going, any ideas on that James?
I think you and I might have different views about this war, but I would not call you an idiot, I just think your approach to this issue is somewhat simplistic.
Andy Anderson
Ardrossan
UKRAINE will only lose that war if the USA, UK and EU stop supplying them with weapons. The world cannot afford for Russia to win. Let’s remember Russia invaded Ukraine, not the other way round. To imply Ukraine should give up is truly disgusting. I cannot stand apologists for dictators like Putin, nor am I big fan USA these days. I would also suggest that Leah Gunn Barrett stop reading Russian propaganda as truth.
Eli K
via thenational.scot
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel