NATALIE WYNN,
Madam, - Mark O'Reilly's October 10th says that his "sympathy goes out to the Israeli journalist Mr Arik Bender and his family. . .But at the same time one has to respect Mr Brian O'Shea's refusal in not wishing to have them stay in his self-catering cottages. . .Yet Mr Arik Bender is attempting to make it an anti-Israeli matter, which in itself is simplifying a complicated issue."
How else can one "brand" it except anti-Israeli? What's complicated about that? It is blaming a private individual for the actions of their government with whom they may fact happen to disagree. It would be like refusing Turks accommodation because of their government's persecution of the Kurds, or Zimbabweans because of Robert Mugabe's hounding of the white farmers which has contributed to the current food crisis in southern Africa. Or, indeed, Palestinians because of their many atrocities against Israelis.
Targeting all people of any race, religious persuasion or nationality for no other reason than what, not who, they are is nothing but mindless discrimination.
The only simplification of this complicated issue is to refuse to accept that the Palestinian leadership holds no small share of the blame for the plight of their own people. - Yours etc.,
NATALIE WYNN,
Dublin 6W.
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Madam, - Kevin Myers writes (An Irishman's Diary, October 5th) that Kerry hotelier Brian O'Shea is in no position to pronounce moral judgement on an Israeli citizen seeking a booking at his establishment. As usual, Mr Myers hits the nail on the head here.
During an upcoming visit to my home town, Boston, I'll be advocating to any of my friends or family who are planning a trip to Ireland that they boycott Kerry on the grounds that the electorate there have elevated to public office "a convicted terrorist, who still belongs to a terrorist organisation, one which is still engaging in terrorist activities".
I may even take my campaign to the letters pages of the Boston Globe and Boston Herald.
Fair's fair, after all. - Yours, etc.,
STEPHEN CORONELLA,
Shankill, Co Dublin.