Sir, – Dr Peter Boylan (Letters, June 8th) considers anti-Israel sentiment in this country uniquely obsessive by comparison with other countries other than Israel’s traditional enemies.
He makes a fair point when highlighting inconsistencies in Ireland’s condemnation of Israel. He instances Qatar’s support for Hamas and the deaths of more than 6,500 workers from third-world countries on construction sites in Qatar in preparation for the 2022 World Cup, none of which elicits comparable outage against Qatar. Similarly Dr Boylan points to muted Irish outrage at Iran’s support of Hizbullah, the recent deaths of 30,000 people in Iran and the treatment of women and girls by the Taliban in Afghanistan. All of this is inarguable.
However, if Israel claims to be the only democratic outpost in the Middle East it should be held to higher standards than autocratic regimes in Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, Qatar and the murderous militias Hamas and Hezbollah. Democracy, even in a sea of autocracy, does not give carte blanche for genocide and illegal annexation of the West Bank and Gaza.
Israel as a so-called democratic state deserves particular opprobrium. – Yours, etc,
RM Block
PJ McDERMOTT,
Westport,
Co Mayo.
Sir, – One cannot help but notice the contrasting political attitudes in Ireland as regards the grim situation for civilians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank compared with those in Ukraine. In the case of the former the Irish Government, under major Opposition pressure, is belatedly rushing through legislation that is purely symbolic as it is unenforceable and will have minimal effect on trade with Israel. However, when it comes to alumina exports to Russia, it appears that the Government (and a silent Opposition) are ducking and diving to avoid any accusations of aiding the Russian war machine that continues to target civilians in Ukraine.
It seems to have escaped many in Ireland that Putin has turned the Russian economy into a war one, thus any alumina exports there are hardly going to make extra saucepans. If Ireland is to insist on taking the high moral ground, the body politic needs to level with people that economic fallout may result. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL FLYNN,
Bayside,
Dublin 13.
