Letters to the editor: ‘No justification for support’
Send us your comments - PO Box 34296, London NW5 1YW | letters@thejngroup.com
No justification for support
I was astonished to hear from the lips of Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi, a prominent Jewish supporter of the Palestinians, that suicide bombing is “understandable”. Worse, we have also heard this from Baroness Tonge, who once said if she were Palestinian she too would understand the bomber.
Even worse, Tony Greenstein (ex-Labour Party) also stated to me that sometimes “people have to die for the cause”. Is it just me who is totally gobsmacked at the concept of mass murder as “understandable” because it appears to be within the remit of the Left to include suicide bombing as a statement?
Here are my questions to the three mentioned above: do you also excuse the Manchester Arena suicide bomber who in May, murdered women and children for the greater good of the Caliphate? And, second, is it only the Palestinian suicide bomber who murders dozens of people in Israel who is excusable?
I’m sure many Jews devoted to the Zionist cause will agree that if the bombing of the Kind David Hotel in 1946 was “not in our name”, then equally we should condemn the concept adopted by the above as abhorrent.
I am therefore inviting Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi, Tonge and Greenstein to respond to my question, in this publication, to explain how they justify mass murder.
Mike Abramov, By email
Embassy move comes up Trumps
President Trump has ordered the American Embassy be moved to Jerusalem, demonstrating, he says, “it is time to officially recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel”.
He is recognising, not making, and in so doing also accepting that the many years of turning a blind eye to the fact have not brought peace, or the prospects of peace, in the area any closer.
Thank you, Mr President. Along with so many, I have been, and remain, critical of some of your seemingly hasty Tweets, but this time I really cannot help but say you have come up Trumps!
I also believe that in time those who have thought otherwise, or at least said that they thought otherwise, will add their thanks to you too. Israel IS already and Jerusalem IS its capital.
Hasten the day when the nations will beat their swords into ploughshares. Hasten the day when the world will be at peace and, wherever nations might choose to put their embassies, there will be no doubt and no doubters that Israel IS and Jerusalem IS its capital.
Jack Lynes, By email
A need to learn respect
There’s a clear parallel between the threats of a new Palestinian uprising in the wake of President Donald Trump’s recent recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and the invasion by Arab forces following Israel’s Declaration of Independence in 1948.
If the Palestinians really want international acceptance, they need to learn about mutual respect which, after all these years, seems to remain an alien concept to them.
The war-mongering of Mahmoud Abbas and the Arab League’s Ahmed Aboul Gheit serves absolutely no purpose other than to further inflame the situation.
Barry Borman, Edgware
No way to work together
I was amazed and pleased that a well-run and democratic newspaper such as yours gave the oxygen of publicity to a Stamford Hill writer – Levi Scapiro – when it would be impossible to find a copy of Jewish News in any Charedi household.
Mr Shapiro, who is hardly known in Stamford Hill, pleads that “we must work together”. Yet he lives among a group of tribes who hardly have anything to say to each other. Having experienced the low level of intelligence among the new generation of Orthodox Jews in this area, in my opinion they could not organise a wine tasting in a vineyard, let alone bring the different tribes together.
Noach Bright, Stamford Hill
60 years on, the heroic legacy of beersheba
Your article [Jewish News, 2 November] on the battle of Beersheba was very interesting and rightly celebrated the heroes of the Australian Forces.
However, we should not forget the role of the British soldiers who were also there at the time.
My father, who was in the City of London Regiment, was wounded at Beersheba and taken to hospital in Alexandria.
Here, the Jewish ladies in traditional style helped the wounded, unlike their Christian counterparts.
My father subsequently visited Israel in 1977 and was amused when people asked if it was his first visit,
He was able to say: “Oh no, I was here 60 years ago with Allenby.”
Dorothy Tuwie, NW11
IT’s forever our capital
The reaction to the announcement that the US has recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and, consequently, will move it’s embassy into the city has been fascinating.
Politicians’ criticisms seem to rest on three points – President Trump’s involvement; its impact on the peace process; it being a bargaining chip during final agreement negotiations. Media reaction has been almost entirely based on its view of Trump.
Interestingly, politicians of all main parties across the western world seem almost in total agreement that Jerusalem is, always has been and always will be the capital of Israel.
Politicians and diplomats have failed miserably to find a solution to this whole Israel/Palestinian issue for 70 years, and anybody who still believes it is simply a matter for negotiation during settlement of a final agreement is naïve or stupid.
Harry Levy, Pinner
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
