Madam, - As one of those "naive, obsequious anti-Zionists" berated by Steven Corcoran (April 25th), I wish to endorse the sentiments expressed in your Editorial of April 23rd calling for talks with Hamas.
Mr Corcoran claims that "the so-called 'right of return' is not recognised by any binding international law". He then admits that UNGA Resolution 194 recognises it (he might also have mentioned Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights), but disingenuously claims that 194 "recognises a host of more realistic solutions. . .such as compensation and resettlement".
The actual wording of the resolution demands "that the refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbours should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date, and that compensation should be paid for the property of those choosing not to return". This is very different from Mr Corcoran's implication that 194 advocates the latter as being "more realistic" than the former.
In common with other naive, obsequious pro-Zionists, Mr Corcoran equates the potential transformation of Israel into a democratic state of all its citizens as being tantamount to "the destruction of Israel". Thank goodness people with such views had no influence on the peace process in Northern Ireland.
- Yours, etc,
RAYMOND DEANE, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.