The second phase of the war in the Middle East has dominated the news, and the minds of our readers, this week. Since the war began, we’ve been inundated with letters on the unfolding tragedy in Israel, and now Gaza. Here are a few of the latest ones.
Yours Sincerely Credit: John Shakespeare
Old political enemies unite to call for peace
- On Monday, six former prime ministers made an unprecedented intervention into the conflict, issuing a joint letter declaring “there is no more tenaciously evil race hatred than antisemitism”, Olivia Ireland and James Massola reported.
In a public letter drafted by John Howard, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison, all six said that “we believe we speak for the vast majority of Australians, of all faiths and of none, when we say we stand in solidarity with Jewish Australians at this time”.
“Likewise, we stand too with the Australian Palestinian community whose families are dying and suffering in this terrible conflict.”
Rick Duley, North Perth (WA) Six ex-prime ministers, one common factor — they have all been voted out of office. If the electorate was tired of them having two bob each way all the time, the former PMs haven’t learnt. They’re still doing it – standing with both sides.
Peter Miniutti, Ashbury Some of them may have been fierce adversaries during their political lives, but at least when it comes down to the atrocities being committed by Israel and Hamas they speak with one sensible voice.
Ian Usman Lewis, Kentucky The two sides are the Israeli government and Hamas, not the Jewish people and Palestinian Arabs. Perhaps the banning of comments by former politicians should be one matter on the next referendum. Then again, given the most recent debacle, perhaps not.
Israel stepped up strikes on Gaza as the first tranche of foreign nationals were allowed to leave via the Rafah Crossing.Credit: AP
‘Defence’ or ‘genocide’? In war, words matter
- Later in the week, Nick Enfield, a professor of linguistics at the University of Sydney, wrote about the use of words in these situations – “were the Hamas killers in fact ‘terrorists’? Were the events in fact ‘atrocities’?”
Greg Baker, Fitzroy Falls Enfield is right that words matter. We swim in a soup of words that can dictate the way a debate progresses and those who first put their vocabulary on the table often have a first mover advantage.
Mark Porter, New Lambton Enfield’s opinion piece reminds us that we need to avoid language that devalues or dehumanises. However, we must also be careful of language that calls murder by any other name.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for “a crushing victory over our enemies”.Credit: Via AP
Stop killing Palestinians in my name
- One of our most popular columnists, writer David Leser, wrote a heartfelt and widely-read piece about the war, saying that as a Jewish man, he was “feeling bereft and appalled and overwhelmed and terrified all at once”.
Grahame Ellis, Narraweena At last a realistic and sensitive expression of the problem confronting Israel and the Palestinians. Leser knows he does not know how to eliminate Hamas. And he knows that the method being adopted by Netanyahu is not the way.
Leslie Solar, Balmain David Leser, you made me cry. For your compassion and clarity in the midst of such madness, I also say not in my Jewish name.
Deb McPherson, Gerringong Leser captures the terrifying moments as the power blocks of history, wheeled by desperate men, rumble into play. They crush the innocents on both sides and fear and anger ripples out across the world. Your words stand out for humanity.
Palestinians and foreign aid workers wait to cross into Egypt at Rafah, Gaza Strip on Wednesday.Credit: AP
Forty years later, I’m still writing about Gaza
- Palestinian-Australian writer Dr Samah Sabawi said she was tired of writing about the impact of massacres on her Palestinian family.
Claudia Hyles, Kingston (ACT) How sad that her first published article was reaction to the frightful massacres of Palestinians in Beirut in 1982. How tragic that she says more than 40 years later, “I’m still writing.” It is almost beyond comprehension to imagine conditions now. Please let us have a ceasefire.
Tim Holland, Glebe Targeting innocent civilians and perpetuating violence only serves to exacerbate, leading to more suffering and entrenched hatred. Sanity and restraint need to prevail, else we will have seen the start of WWIII. Rather than taking sides, the international community has a role to play in supporting peace initiatives and advocating an end to violence.
Phil Bradshaw, Naremburn By the abhorrent nature of their criminal actions, Hamas clearly sought to provoke a desperate Benjamin Netanyahu, who, prior to October 6, was the subject of countrywide demonstrations regarding his alleged corruption and open attempts to pervert the justice system. Making the West’s support for Israel contingent on the removal of the compromised Netanyahu could be a positive step towards de-escalation.
- You can comment on most articles at smh.com.au in the comments sections and in letters to the editor in print and online. See you next Friday. Yours. Sincerely. Margot Saville, deputy letters editor