I fully support Alex Ryvchin’s article (“No amnesty for NGO’s false claims of Israeli apartheid”, 1/2). I also lived in Haifa for two very special years. Although 100 per cent Jewish ethnically, my brother and I were the only Jewish ones among 600 Arab children at a Catholic boys school where not a nasty word or action was experienced by us, although everyone knew we were Jewish.
It is shameful that Amnesty International has degenerated to a level where its main target of criticism is Israel, the only democratic state in the Middle East. Israel is bilingual officially, Hebrew and Arabic, in and out of parliament (the Knesset), and gives social security benefits to both Jew and Arab equally. No wonder no Arab wants to leave Israel to go to a neighbouring Arab country.
Andrew Sholl, Cranbrook, Qld
It comes as no surprise that Amnesty’s report has been met by hysterical denial from the Israel lobby. This, despite abundant evidence that Israel is implementing apartheid, with similar conclusions reached by Human Rights Watch, the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem, Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter and many others. Last year a poll of US Jewish voters revealed that 25 per cent believe Israel is an apartheid state.
As Benjamin Netanhyahu said: “Israel is not a state of all its citizens. According to the Nation-State Law that we passed, Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people – and them alone.”
Michael Ryan, Bangalow, NSW
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, both highly respected organisations, have recently published reports detailing the ongoing abuses of the Palestinian inhabitants of the occupied territories. The policies and repressive practices of successive Israeli governments in imposing their military occupation are well documented. I have seen them myself at first hand.
No amount of obfuscation by apologists for Israel’s actions can change the truth as witnessed and attested by numerous individuals and international organisations over the years.
Robert Birch, Smiths Lake, NSW
Some respected international bodies have in recent times lost all credibility. This year North Korea is to chair the UN Conference on Disarmament. It seems implausible, yet true.
Then there is Amnesty International. Yet again compassionate, caring people will be misled by an organisation that one would not suspect of distortions of fact. Amnesty has released a report entitled Israel’s Apartheid Against Palestinians. It is a deeply biased attack on Israel, distorting the truth, international law, Israeli policy and events on the ground.
Most who hear of this report will believe they can trust Amnesty; sadly, few people will get a balanced, factual and knowledgeable analysis. Public opinion is all too often hostage to misinformation.
Alex Selby, Point Piper, NSW
Read these letters in The Australian.