May 31: But seriously, folks

But seriously, folks

Sir, – Reflecting on “PA reportedly plans to use human rights group for espionage activities, intelligence gathering” (May 28), what immediately comes to mind, as an avid tennis fan, is the barrage of insolent verbal abuse screamed by a hysterical John McEnroe when disputing a line call: You cannot be serious!” Time and again human rights NGOs within and outside Israel have deliberately misinformed and discredited the Jewish state and displayed uncompromising bias and hostility. Thus, there is no need for financially stressed EU taxpayers and their counterparts in the US to fund yet another insidious and superfluous entity!

GISH TRUMAN ROBBINS
Pardesiya

Nice try, Emma

Sir, – With regard to “Protests fail to disrupt Habimah’s London performance” (May 29), it would be a mistake to assume that just because Emma Thompson, who spearheaded the letter demanding a ban on Israel’s national theater, is an outstanding actress she must also be a person of intelligence, knowledge or understanding about politics or history. Moreover, it would be a mistake to assume that she is a person free from any anti-Jewish prejudice.

She is a good actress. Full stop.

She may well be an uneducated, ignorant, prejudiced Jew-hating buffoon with an exaggerated sense of her own importance.

There are many such examples – Vanessa Redgrave and Mel Gibson, to name but two.

How misguided and deeply offensive she is in calling for this boycott, and how glad I am that she and the other signatories did not prevail.

BARBARA OBERMAN
Herzliya Pituah

Playing with fire

Sir, – Despite what B’Tselem and Arabs say, it is impossible that Jews from Yitzhar started recent fires (“Palestinian, settler violence caught on tape for second week in a row,” May 29; “B’Tselem: We have video footage showing settlers shooting at stone-throwing Palestinians,” May 21).

1. The prevailing winds blow from the Arab village toward Yitzhar. Videos of the incidents clearly document this.

2. Accusing observant Jews who live in Yitzhar of igniting fires in fields, especially on Shabbat or holidays when they won’t even turn lights on or off, is absurd.

3. Why would “a man dressed in white... with a red scarf over his face” and lighting a fire be presumed to be a settler? 4. If Jews started the fires, why are they the only ones putting them out? Why do the Arabs try to stop them from doing so?

MOSHE DANN
Jerusalem

Living proof

Sir, – Regarding “Do a good deed and donate” (May 29), in August 2009 I was diagnosed with AML leukemia. I was told I had two weeks to live. I was also told I had a very rare antigen in my DNA strand.

After a national search on the Bone Marrow Register, no person in the US matched my rare blood. The hospital then did a global search and found one person. He was in Israel.

My donor was at work when Ezer Mizion came looking for volunteers. The amazing thing is that he registered in August 2009, the very month I was diagnosed.

I was prompted to write as I read that your prime minister had registered for Ezer Mizion’s database. He is right in calling on others to save a life. I am living proof. I’m healthy and strong.

I’m coming to Israel with my three children and husband on June 7 to meet my donor and his family, and to give thanks for my life.

VERA KIRKPATRICK
Kamuela, Hawaii

Older and wiser

Sir, – I read “Most parents claiming to know summer safety rules are actually ignorant, says child safety group” (May 29) with interest until I came across the part that said “a child can legally be left alone” at the age of six.

I am appalled that the powersthat- be consider a six-year-old capable of looking after himself.

My children were not left alone until they were 10. Kids have a bit more sense at that age.

JUDY GOLDIN
Kiryat Tivon

Just imagine

Sir, – Gershon Baskin’s “Use your imagination” (Encountering Peace, May 29) has a misstatement in the very first paragraph.

There is, indeed, a Palestinian state next to Israel. That state is Jordan.

The second paragraph has another misstatement. The Jewish settlers of Judea and Samaria have done very little to limit Palestinian development. For that, one had better ask Palestinian leaders into whose pockets the millions of dollars and euros sent to develop their infrastructure, housing, schools and hospitals have gone.

Baskin must make sure that when using his imagination he imagines correctly.

Why have we effective control of 100 percent of the land? Use your imagination.

Look at the Palestinians’ maps; look at their textbooks; listen to what they say in the media; see whom they honor with street names. You may not have to tax your imagination too highly.

Whatever the outcome of this not-so-simplistic problem, we do not need the approval or partnership of the international community.

If it is to end well for all the local inhabitants, it will need both sides to compromise. Will the Arabs continue to demand a state that’s judenrein? Will they insist we take back millions of what are laughingly called refugees? Will they accept a demilitarized state? Use your imagination.

And how will Hamas fit into this scenario? Use your imagination.

Perhaps it would be better if we used that uncommon commodity called common sense.

EDMUND JONAH
Rishon Lezion

Whisky means Scotland

Sir, – Regarding the caption of the photo showing boxes of Johnnie Walker Red Label scotch (“European firms plan for Greek unrest and euro exit,” Business & Finance, May 29), did you commit the ultimate solecism or was it a deliberate error to test observant Scottish Jews? Whiskey has nothing to do with Scotland! Vast fortunes have been spent to register and protect the generic name for grain and malt whisky produced in Scotland.

Whiskey is produced from corn, grain, barley, malt, etc. everywhere in the world – but not in Scotland.

We are now off to our granddaughter’s wedding armed with 31-year-old Speyside Glenlivet and Bowmore Islay 17-year-old.

Both are single-malt whisky!

KALMAN BOOKMAN
Jerusalem/Glasgow

Lest we forget

Sir, – In all the discussions around the attempt to have one minute of silence at the start of the London games in memory of the Israeli Olympic athletes murdered in Munich in 1972 (“German president to meet with Munich survivors,” May 28), sight has been lost of a major initiative taking place on July 22.

With the help of generous donors, our committee will be unveiling a plaque in memory of the slain athletes in an Olympic borough in East London. Eric Pickles MP (secretary of state and cabinet minister for communities and local government); Mayor Boris Johnson; Ephraim Zinger, chair of the Israeli Olympic Committee; and many local, national and international dignitaries will attend.

With all official Olympic organizations having turned their backs on us, we decided to go ahead as a private project, and the support we gathered has been stunning. Rather than just silence and speeches, we will provide a lasting and permanent legacy after a disgraceful gap of 40 years, and hope all future Olympic venues will follow our lead.

MARTIN SUGARMAN and LINDA KELLY
London
The writers are co-chairs of the Britain-Israel London Olympic Plaque Committee.