In the Media

Louise Adler writes much about her education (“Things I’ve learnt you can’t ask about Israel”, September 21). It’s unfortunate that education didn’t extend to the real reasons for the lack of Israeli/Palestinian peace, the relentless Palestinian intransigence that has seen them reject several peace initiatives including generous offers of statehood alongside Israel and, indeed, consistently refuse to negotiate in good faith.

She should also learn the following. All Israeli citizens have equal democratic rights, regardless of their religion or ethnicity, and today’s modern Israel is far more egalitarian than what she saw over 50 years ago. The only reason Gaza is blockaded is that its Hamas rulers have been conducting terror attacks against Israel since Israel’s unilateral withdrawal in 2005. Even then, thousands of Palestinians were entering Israel daily most of the time, and Gaza also has a border with Egypt.

Comparing Gaza to the Holocaust is obscene, and amounts to Holocaust denial. The Nazis tried to kill every Jew. Israel targets only terrorists while evacuating civilians. In fact, it is Hamas, which started this war, that shares the Nazis’ genocidal aims while it sacrifices its people, as it has repeatedly made clear. 

Jamie Hyams, Director of Public Affairs, Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, Melbourne