SIR, — In common, I imagine, with other readers I am beginning
to feel deluged under the charges and counter-charges of Messrs. Childers and Unna. Surely no country is beyond reproach in its affairs with other countries; every country at some time or another can be accused of this, that or the other. From a common-sense point of view it seems ridiculous that Israel in its precarious position should want, and strive for, anything else but peace; and I know its Government has repeatedly called for peace talks with the Arabs. But I constantly see in the press speeches made by Egyptian and other Arab leaders which are most bellicose in manner and which have as their central motif the extermination of Israel.
Your paper is liberal-minded; so are your con- tributors. I must therefore ask you whether you are not stirred by the fact that the Arabs are dedi- cated to the destruction of Israel? Would you greet an Arab victory in any military adventure against Israel with equanimity—especially as this would un- doubtedly result in another Jewish blood-bath (if repeated Arab statements are to be believed)?
I am also intrigued how it can be that people such as yourselves who openly believe in democracy and civilised ways of living can be so fulsome in your praise of regimes (such as the Arab regimes) where dictatorships, assassinations and coups d'etat are the order of the day; and why you appear to have given no support whatsoever to a State such as Israel which has developed a most advanced and egalitarian way of life.
The Jewish people have made a contribution to- wards civilisation out of all proportion to their numbers, and, in return, very often have been made the butt of vile persecutions. In a tiny corner of the world, in Israel, some of them are attempting to make something out of nothing and are trying to create a niche where they can live in peace. Moses, in ,Biblical times, is supposed to have told an Egyptian king, 'Let my people go.' In modern times this could be paraphrased to 'Let my people alone.' —Yours faithfully,
MORRIS GERSHLICK
22 Cranky Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex
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