Madam, – In a Go feature, “Getting to the heart of Israel” (April 9th), Cian Traynor painted a rosy picture of a Land of Milk and Honey in the Mediterranean, a paradise that would be unfamiliar most Israeli Arabs. Nor would this utopia be familiar to the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, forcibly driven from their homes on numerous occasions since 1948.
However, they would, I’m sure, recognise the illustrated map, highlighting, as it does, an Israel encompassing both the West Bank and the Golan Heights.
Regrettably, also, this travel feature appeared on April 9th, the 62nd anniversary of the massacre and mutilation of over 130 Palestinians at Deir Yassin, in 1948! – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Cian Traynor (Go, April 9th) was apparently brought by his generous hosts – the Israel Government Tourist Office and El Al – to the heart of Israel. What this “first-time visitor” does not appear to have been told is that he was not in fact “getting to the heart of Israel”, but rather to the occupied Palestinian territory.
With the sole exception of Israel itself, it is the considered and established position of the international community of nations that the Mount of Olives is in Palestinian territory. The Temple Mount is in Palestinian territory. The Western Wall is in Palestinian territory. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is in Palestinian territory. Yet not even a token nod to the existence of the Palestinians in this 1,500- word piece. The ethnic cleansing of Palestine continues. – Yours, etc,