Eschew obfuscationSir, – I am pleased to hear that possible US presidential candidate Mike Huckabee supports our right to live anywhere in this country (“Huckabee evokes right of Jews to live in all of Israel,” February 1).However, politicians often engage in double talk in order to court specific voting sectors. So, to be absolutely clear, Huckabee needs to publicly define his geographical understanding of “all of Israel.”Is Ma’aleh Adumim in Israel? Ariel, Har Homa, Neveh Daniel, Tekoa? Or will this be clarified after a presidential win?STEVEN FRANCO Jerusalem
No uncertain termsSir, – Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu deserves open praise for being able to stand up to the chancellor of Germany and explain in no uncertain terms that settlements are not the cause of turmoil with the Palestinians (“PM, Merkel disagree openly on settlements.” February 1).Angela Merkel and Germany are “good friends” of Israel in 2011, and members of her government came to seal trade and cultural ties, which are important. However, she reiterated the canard about Israeli settlements, and we must be grateful to our prime minister for revealing his love of Israel and his total commitment to its security.
TOBY WILLIG JerusalemGive her a breakSir, – I only partially agree with what Jeff Barak says in his January 31 Reality Check column (“Israeli democracy needs a checkup”). I refer to what was said regarding the fact that “Kadima is nothing more than a home for political opportunists on the center-right and center-left, with nothing to unite them.” This was proven the moment Ariel Sharon undemocratically decided to form a new political party in order to achieve his agenda – the disastrous disengagement – which went directly against his Likud party’s stance and the views of those who voted him in.How anyone with moral and political clarity could be part of Kadima is beyond me, but for Barak to call those demanding that foreign groups supporting leftwing, anti-IDF and anti-Israel activities in Israel (and outside Israel) undemocratic is to me ridiculous.Give me a break. I, for one, want to remain living here, in my democratic Israel, which gives much freedom to the many who criticize it. I reject the notion that Israel should cowardly “turn the other cheek’ to those who constantly try to undermine its very existence.BARBARA BROWN Beit ShemeshSir, – I always believed that democracy meant “of the people, by the people and for the people.” Growing up in Britain, we had representation, whereby if a citizen had a gripe he could always have access to his elected representative.Thirty years ago, MK Chaim Herzog, then chairman of the Committee of Concerned Citizens (for Electoral Reform), held a regular “surgery” in Herzliya to set an example for others to follow. Electoral reform is still a dream; achieving it in our present political climate is a nightmare.Jeff Barak is right in his analysis, that the public seems to have blinkers on. We who emanate from Western countries would never have acquiesced to laws that prevent freedom of choice and expression. We were brought up to respect minorities (as we ourselves once were). We did not fear investigations at the government level for activities we carried out in the spirit of true democracy.We are at a crossroads internally, and every one of us needs to take a position and stand behind it. Choose carefully whom you really want to represent you.Let’s hope that the rebirth of the Labor Party – without whose institutions the fledgling State of Israel may never have taken off – will provide a real home for those seeking a stable and focused leadership, a united leadership in which every citizen in Israel will be treated with equal respect and opportunity, and will in turn contribute positively to society.
ZELDA HARRIS Tel Aviv
Wrong on UNRWASir, – Caroline Glick’s “The wars of 2011” (Our World, December 28) makes unsubstantiated, incorrect and damaging allegations against UNRWA, namely that the agency “openly acknowledges that it employs terrorists, allows its schools and camps to be used as jihad indoctrination centers, training camps and missile launching pads.”Nothing could be further from the truth.UNRWA’s track record on enforcing a zero-tolerance neutrality policy is a matter of public record. The agency’s mission is firmly grounded in neutral humanitarian principles that our staff are obligated to embrace and practice. We implement a strict “no politics” policy and where any staff are found to have been engaged in activities incompatible with our neutrality regulations, disciplinary action is taken, up to and including dismissal.We inspect our installations regularly for breaches of neutrality. We are transparent with our major donors and report, to their satisfaction, on the many processes and mechanisms we have in place to ensure neutrality.Our commitment to and practice of neutrality is held independently of any donor requirements. As a United Nations agency, scrupulous neutrality is essential to our ability to function in the politically charged environment of the Middle East.CHRIS GUNNESSJerusalemThe writer is UNRWA’s spokesperson