This is in response to John Rapley's column 'War on Gaza', published last Thursday, January 8.

Dear Mr Rapley,

You have put your emotions before your reason. We now have evidence of the true stripes of your beliefs.

Let us examine the arguments you made.

First, you wonder if the war is a sign of desperation and not of the sovereign right to defend ones people against years of rocket and mortar attacks. Today, nearly one million people in Israel live with 15 to 30 second warning sirens to seek shelter and where schools are closed and hospitals have been moved underground. And you state that it fears the vulnerability of its nuclear reactors.

You continue with the myth of Israel's invincibility being dealt a mortal blow in Lebanon. What is the purpose of this? Is it to diminish the morality of Israel's right to protect its citizens, as happened with the kidnapping and murder of the two soldiers and the rain of rockets from Hezbollah? As this is being written three rockets were reported launched from Lebanon causing damage and injuries. To the credit of both, these are the first since that conflict and the rearming of Hezbollah by mainly Iran under the watchful eyes of the United Nations.

Wishful thinking

And is it wishful thinking that Israel cannot drive Hamas from Gaza? What is Hamas? You should explain if you wish to exonerate them and keep them in place.

You come to the ratio of deaths. Really! Is the loss of life a score of the war game? Is it wrong to kill more than your enemy? Again, let us realise that to kill is wrong; to defend is right, and if it results in deaths then those who attack first, Hamas, must take the blame. Defence is not a war crime.

On the question of the ratio of deaths during war, one could argue that the Allied slaughter of German civilians in World War II was totally disproportionate to the German slaughter of Allied civilians. Similarly, the US slaughter of Iraqi civilians was disproportionate to those killed in the US in 9/11. The US has since admitted that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. But let us be realistic, we in the West abhor death and destruction, even in our own country with firebombing, wanton murder and 'settlement cleansing'. The question to ask is: Is proportionate death an issue against militant regimes, especially one whose known policy of defence is the use of human shields, that is, using women and children?

The statement of squeezing Gaza economically is interesting. Have you examined why both the Egyptian and the Israeli borders were closed? Have you examined the level of aid, especially from Europe, that has flowed to Gaza? Have you determined what has been curtailed in the Gaza economy from the closure of the borders? It would be useful for you to tell your readers answers to these questions rather than presumptions which, to be honest, may not be true.

And your final opinion is that it may be that Israel is just finding new ways to worsen its position in the region and in the world. Are you serious? Mr Rapley you are entitled to hate Israel. However, both Jamaica and Israel protect the freedom of speech and are two of the few true democratic societies on Earth. You, as a responsible commentator, should base your opinions on facts, not unfounded biases.

I am, etc.,

AINSLEY HENRIQUES

ainsley@cwjamaica.com

Kingston 5